Page 29 - BBC Knowledge - October 2017 IN
P. 29
I N N U MB E R S
1,203
KM
The distance Chinese researchers were
able to successfully preserve quantum
entanglement in a pair of photons –
that’s a new record
66
MILLION
The numbers of trees planted by
1.5 million volunteers in Madhya
Pradesh, India, in 12 hours in an attempt
to combat climate change
5,100
SQ KM
The size of a giant iceberg that broke off
an Antarctic ice shelf in the Weddell Sea.
That’s an area almost four times the size
of Greater London
The clearest negative impact is the risk of abuse Of these, attention is the most studied, and
and addiction by people with predisposing its enhancement allows us to better process
personality traits. Video games can affect the objects in our visual field, selecting those
reward circuits, containing the pleasure centres which are relevant and ignoring the rest.
of the brain. This, in turn, could affect other brain Attention improvements have a positive effect on
functions in the frontal lobe, possibly affecting ‘executive functions’, mental processes involved
the capacity for planning, inhibiting distractions in controlling behaviour, solving problems and
and mental problem-solving. Games that heavily facilitating learning – functions that are closely
rely on online multiplayer modes are the most linked to intelligence. Visuospatial skills –
associated with addiction, due to social our capacity to process visual and spatial
interactions being more rewarding than just information – are also improved.
playing against the computer.
Can games be useful?
Can games be good for you? Video games contribute to the correct functioning
Since video games usually display increasing of our brain, and can even improve it. So we
levels of difficulty, they are continually have to get rid of our prejudices and accept
challenging our skills, making the brain perform them as valid entertainment. This also opens
at 100 per cent of its capacity, resulting in the door to using games as a form of training
In some hospitals, video games are
effective cognitive training. Various mental already used to help rehabilitate stroke in clinical settings, especially for those with
functions seem to benefit from this effect. patients cognitive deficits. 29
OCTOBER 2017
