Researchers have established a link between spending more time playing video games and an increase in intelligence generally in children, partly disproving the idea that these negatively impact the development of young minds.
A surprising link
Published in the journal Scientific Reportsthis new work involved examining the screen time of nearly 10,000 Americans aged 9 or 10, who participated in the large study ABCD, which assesses brain development in children. On average, subjects reported spending 2.5 hours daily watching TV or online videos, 1 hour playing video games, and half an hour on social media or forums.
The team then looked at data from more than 5,000 of these children two years later, and found an increase in intelligence quotient (QI) by regarding 2.5 points in subjects whose playing time was above average. The latter are illustrated in particular in tasks evaluating written comprehension, visuo-spatial processing, memory, flexibility of thought and self-control.
Although this work focused only on North American children and did not distinguish between types of video games (mobile, console), they offer valuable insights, supporting the idea that intelligence is not a fixed constant acquired at birth.
« Our results indicate that screen time generally does not impair children’s cognitive abilities and that playing video games may even help boost intelligence. “says the neuroscientist Torkel Klingbergof the’Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
Addressing gaps in previous research
While this is not the first research to suggest a link between the time children spend playing and the development of their cognitive abilities, so far the small sample sizes, the different protocols used and the Failure to take into account genetic and socio-economic influences had led to contradictory conclusions. Gaps that this new work specifically aimed to fill.
For researchers, the next steps will be to study the influence of screens on physical activity, sleep, well-being and school performance.
« Because of the number of factors at play, both in terms of how intelligence can develop and the different ways screen time can affect our organism and our habits, more research is needed. », concludes Klingberg.
