Why Online Games Are Good For Your Mental Health

Online gaming is still met with sneers of derision and a general consensus that those who don a headset and sign onto a server are illiterate teenagers wearing food stained pajamas, who reside for days at a time in a fusty smelling room with no natural light. But online gaming has come a long way since the days of immersing yourself in World of Warcraft, with more and people playing not only for entertainment but for the benefit of their mental health. Those who still consider gaming a subpar way of spending time might not believe such health benefits exist - but here are just a few:

Gaming is great for slowing down the symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Online gaming stretches across various platforms, from the first person shooter to the RPG to those who enjoy bingo for the brain. Bingo has been noted as an excellent game to play for those attempting to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s as it requires constant concentration and fully engages the brain.

Social interaction

Online gaming brings together like-minded players on one platform to interact while they play a few games together. Whether you are engaging with other players over headsets, typing in a chat box or chatting with people while viewing a live Twitch stream, there is still a social element involved and many people who play online create friendships with others that last long after the game is over.

Brain training

Gaming is fantastic for improving your cognitive abilities as you actively engage the hippocampus which is linked to memory and learning. You must master the controls, learn maps, figure out puzzles and perfect tactics while playing a game that encourages your brain to improve and grow stronger when it comes to cognitive tasks.

Whether you play on a PC, a console, or on your mobile phone, there are thousands of games out there to assist – and according to those working in the field of neurology, different games provide different benefits. Neurobiologists at the University of California have discovered that a game such as Angry Birds offers very little in the way of memory gain, while playing Super Mario improved memory recall by 12%. This indicates that 3D games are much better than 2D games when it comes to improving memory, so those who play on consoles and PCs are benefitting the most from their game time.

Fun

According to game designer, Jane McGonigal, brain scans of those playing video games indicate that "the most active parts of the brain [while gaming] are the rewards pathway system, which is associated with motivation and goal orientation." This confirms that games are there to entertain but are also great for improving your mood, acting as an efficient weapon against depression.

It’s time to end the negative views on gaming. It can be beneficial for a multitude of reasons besides being a more productive way of spending your time than, say, sitting in front of the television all evening like most people tend to do.