Breaking down rich gameplay into cognitive skills:
Parents and pundits may no longer argue that gamers are indulging in brainless activities in front of their screens. And gamers may finally feel a sense of vindication.
[...] "Video games can be made to engage and characterize distinct cognitive abilities while still retaining the entertainment value that popular titles offer," says Tomihiro Ono, lead author of the joint study in Scientific Reports.
He adds, "For example, we found that there are in-game micro-level connections such as between stealth behavior and abstract thinking, aiming and attention, and targeting and visual discrimination."
[...] Although existing literature and general beliefs regarding similar action video games already suggest the advantage that younger males may have over other demographic groups, the researchers did not expect to obtain measurements reflecting stark differences even after accounting for gaming experience.
"The lack of a connection between cognitive abilities and video game elements in aged players came as a surprise," Ono notes.
To attain more scientific insight into the psyche of gamers, such as in why computer games have positive influences on some players, the researchers posit that studies using games ought to avoid one-size-fits-all approaches, as demographic factors and game experience can be assumed to affect results.
Journal Reference:
Ono, T., Sakurai, T., Kasuno, S. et al. Novel 3-D action video game mechanics reveal differentiable cognitive constructs in young players, but not in old [open]. Sci Rep 12, 11751 (2022). 10.1038/s41598-022-15679-5
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 10 2022, @10:34PM (7 children)
Yeah, these kids can push buttons.. Can they build the tools of war, can they fix a toilet, change a light bulb? These are the questions to ask of this generation
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 10 2022, @10:40PM
There's probably apps for all of that.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 10 2022, @11:31PM
Just hire an immigrant to do it.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by corey on Sunday September 11 2022, @12:10AM
I’m not sure why it’s always so polar. So, someone who has never played any games vs. someone who plays addictively day in, day out. Neither are optimal, someone in the middle, recreational, closer to the non play end would be probably a most healthy outcome. If I play a game once every month for a couple of hours, am I a “gamer”?
(Score: 2) by mhajicek on Sunday September 11 2022, @02:55AM
Can she bake a cherry pie, Johnny boy, Johnny boy?
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 2) by helel on Sunday September 11 2022, @03:20AM
Trade schools still exist, you know. And from the handy-work I've seen from the last generation... If you're not one of "these kids" you'd be well advised not to cast stones.
Republican Patriotism [youtube.com]
(Score: 4, Funny) by deimios on Sunday September 11 2022, @03:46AM (1 child)
Yes they can. They will look up how to do it on youtube and they will make mistakes however they will overcome and make it work despite not being taught how to do it.
You see these activities you describe are a game, a 3D builder, a puzzle of sorts.
Let's change perspective: can the older generation who mastered these activities "push buttons"?
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Monday September 12 2022, @03:47PM
Trying things and learning from mistakes?
THE KIDS THESE DAYS!!!! *Old Man Shakes Fist at Cloud*
(Score: 2) by MIRV888 on Sunday September 11 2022, @05:20AM
Well maybe not smart, but it was fun.
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Sunday September 11 2022, @10:26PM
Oh, this old complaint. In the 19th century, people took a similar dim view of chess. Thinking is never a waste.
Nice to have some more serious research about the benefits of gaming. Might sway some of the nay sayers.