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Life Science,

Your Brain on Games

Learn about how video games can affect your brain.

By Jennifer Hackett
From the February 2020 Issue
Key Focus Area: Structure & Function,
Other Focus Areas: Engineering; Coding and Computer Science
Standards
  • NGSS
    Core Idea: LS1.D, PS4.C.
  • CCSS
    Writing: 1
  • TEKS
    Science: 3.1C, 3.2F, 4.1C, 4.2F, 5.1C, 5.2F
  • ELA
    3.12C, 4.12C, 5.12C, 6.11C

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After school, 8-year-old Griffin Higdon can usually be found playing video games. One of his favorite games is Minecraft. He and his friends from school meet up in the game’s online world and work together to build castles. “We plan out what we want to build during recess,” Griffin says. 

Griffin isn’t alone in his love of video games. In the U.S., about 64 million kids between the ages of 2 and 17 play them. That’s 97 percent of kids in the country!  

But since video games became popular in the 1980s, many adults have worried about how they affect young players. Over the years, scientists have researched what happens inside a person’s brain when he or she plays video games. What they have learned might surprise you!

Griffin Higdon is 8 years old. He can often be found playing video games at school. One of his favorite games is Minecraft. He and his friends meet up in the game’s online world. They work together to build castles. “We plan out what we want to build during recess,” Griffin says. 

Griffin isn’t alone in his love of video games. About 64 million kids in the U.S. play them. Their ages range from 2 to 17. That’s 97 percent of kids in the country!  

Video games became popular in the 1980s. Many adults have worried ever since. They’re concerned about the games’ effects on young people. Scientists have studied the brains of video game players over the years. What they’ve learned might surprise you!

Brains at Play

Your brain is involved in everything you do, from walking to class to talking with friends to playing video games. Different parts of your brain control different actions.

When you’re playing a video game, you’re using areas of your cerebrum, the part of your brain that solves problems. It receives information from your eyes about what’s happening on the screen. Your brain then sends messages to your spinal cord. This tube-like structure directs the signals through bundles of fibers called nerves to your hand. You press a button, causing your game character to move. All this happens in less than a second (see Inside the Gamer’s Brain).

Your brain takes part in everything you do. That could be walking to class, talking with friends, or playing video games. Different areas of your brain control different actions. 

You use your cerebrum when you play a video game. This part of your brain solves problems. It works with your eyes. They provide information about what’s happening on-screen. Your brain then sends messages to your spinal cord. It’s a tube-like structure that moves the signals through nerves. These bundles of fibers reach all the way to your hand. As a result, you press a button. That causes your game character to move. All this happens in less than a second (see Inside the Gamer’s Brain).

Inside the Gamer’s Brain

Your brain is busy when you play video games. Here’s how it works together with your body to help you beat the final level.

Your brain is busy when you play video games. Here’s how it works with your body.

Kate Francis

Your EYES and other sense organs carry information about the video game to your brain.

Your EYES and other sense organs gather information about the game. 

Areas in your CEREBRUM receive sensory information and help you respond by solving problems and planning strategies. 

Your senses send information to areas in your CEREBRUM. They solve problems and plan strategies. That helps you react.

Your SPINAL CORD carries signals to your body’s system of nerves.

Your SPINAL CORD carries signals to your body’s system of nerves.

NERVES tell your muscles to move at just the right moment.

NERVES tell your muscles to move at just the right moment.

Think: What other senses might a person use to play video games?

Think: What other senses might a person use to play video games?

Inside the Gamer’s Brain

Your brain is busy when you play video games. Here’s how it works together with your body to help you beat the final level.

Your brain is busy when you play video games. Here’s how it works with your body.

Kate Francis

Your EYES and other sense organs carry information about the video game to your brain.

Your EYES and other sense organs gather information about the game. 

Areas in your CEREBRUM receive sensory information and help you respond by solving problems and planning strategies. 

Your senses send information to areas in your CEREBRUM. They solve problems and plan strategies. That helps you react.

Your SPINAL CORD carries signals to your body’s system of nerves.

Your SPINAL CORD carries signals to your body’s system of nerves.

NERVES tell your muscles to move at just the right moment.

NERVES tell your muscles to move at just the right moment.

Think: What other senses might a person use to play video games?

Think: What other senses might a person use to play video games?

Courtesy National Association of Collegiate Esports

Competitive video game playing, or esports, is growing in popularity. 

Playing Limits

Part of the fun of video games comes from the sense of accomplishment you feel when you reach a goal. That’s caused by a chemical produced in your brain. It’s a great feeling! But it can keep people playing the games for hours on end. 

That can be a problem. Doctors recommend that kids spend less than two hours a day using screens, such as phones, tablets, and computers. Playing video games for longer can cut into time kids should spend doing physical activities that keep their bodies healthy. 

Winning is part of the fun of video games. It feels good to reach a goal. That’s because of a chemical your brain releases. But feeling great can be a problem. It can keep people playing video games for hours on end. 

Doctors say kids should spend less than two hours a day looking at screens. That includes using phones, tablets, and computers. Playing video games longer leaves kids less time for other things. These things can include doing physical activities to keep their bodies healthy. 

Shutterstock.com

Some video games are designed to help kids with injuries or disabilities improve motor skills.

Rachel Kowert is a psychologist who studies video games. She says that when kids seriously struggle to put down the controller, it could be a sign of a mental health concern, such as depression. In that case, taking away video games won’t solve the problem, she says. It’s more important to understand what causes kids to play for too long. Talking to a doctor or therapist could help too.

Kowert has another concern about video games: bullying. Today, most games are connected online. This setting makes it easy for kids to pick on others. That’s why it’s important to only play with people you know and trust in real life, says Kowert. And if you see someone behaving badly online, block the person and let an adult know.   

Rachel Kowert is a psychologist. She studies video games. She says that some kids really struggle to put down the controller. That could be a sign of a mental health issue, like depression. Taking away video games won’t solve the problem, she says. It’s more important to learn what causes kids to play too long. Talking to a doctor or therapist could help too.

Bullying is another of Kowert’s concerns. Today, most games are played online. That makes it easy for kids to pick on others. That’s why you should only play with people you know and trust in real life, says Kowert. You should block any person behaving badly online. And let an adult know.

Smart Playing

 Follow these guidelines to stay safe and healthy while gaming. 

 Follow these guidelines to stay safe and healthy while gaming. 

> Switch to a new activity every 20 minutes so your eyes can rest.

> If you witness bullying, block the person and let an adult know.

> Never play online games with people you don’t know in real life. 

> Switch to a new activity. Do this every 20 minutes. It allows your eyes to rest.

> See bullying? Block the person. And let an adult know. 

> Never play online games with people you don’t know in real life.

Smart Playing

 Follow these guidelines to stay safe and healthy while gaming. 

 Follow these guidelines to stay safe and healthy while gaming. 

> Switch to a new activity every 20 minutes so your eyes can rest.

> If you witness bullying, block the person and let an adult know.

> Never play online games with people you don’t know in real life. 

> Switch to a new activity. Do this every 20 minutes. It allows your eyes to rest.

> See bullying? Block the person. And let an adult know. 

> Never play online games with people you don’t know in real life.

Games for Good

Minecraft

Minecraft is the world’s most popular video game, with more than 170 million copies sold.

 If gamers follow certain guidelines (see Smart Playing), most experts agree, video games can have many benefits—including social ones. “Games can strengthen relationships because they’re a shared activity,” says Kowert. 

Today, designers are making video games for purposes beyond entertainment. Physical therapists are using games to help build patients’ strength and balance. Other games are being used in classrooms. Barr is excited by the good games can do. “Hopefully the potential of video games will be recognized more and more,” he says. 

Gamers should follow certain guidelines to play safely (see Smart Playing). Most experts agree that video games can have many benefits. That includes social ones. “Games can strengthen relationships because they’re a shared activity,” says Kowert. 

Today, designers are making video games for more than having fun. Physical therapists use video games. They can help build patients’ strength and balance. Teachers also use video games in classrooms. They can help students learn. Barr is excited by the good that games can do. “Hopefully, the potential of video games will be recognized more and more,” he says. 

Computer Speak

Kate Francis

Step 1

Observe

Video games are played on computers. To design a video game, people create a computer program, a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do.

Video games run on computers. People design the games using a computer program. It’s a set of instructions. They tell a computer what to do.

Define the Problem

Can you direct a human “computer” to draw a house using written instructions?

• The house should have a roof, at least one window, and at least one door.
• The computer must perform actions based only on the instructions.
• Instructions can only describe how the pencil should move.

Can you direct a human “computer” to draw a house? You can give them only written instructions.

• The house should have a roof, at least one window, and at least one door.
• The computer must act only on the instructions.
• Instructions can explain only how the pencil should move.

Materials

• grid paper
• pencil
• eraser

• grid paper
• pencil
• eraser

Design a Solution

STEP 1: Draw a simple house on a sheet of grid paper.   

STEP 2: Brainstorm how to write directions to tell someone how to make the exact drawing. Remember your partner can only move the pencil as you say. 

STEP 3: Write the directions and give them to a partner. This partner will be your “computer.” Can your partner draw exactly the same house as yours on grid paper?

STEP 4: Evaluate your instructions. If your instructions didn’t work, rewrite and retest them.

STEP 1: Draw a simple house on a sheet of grid paper.   

STEP 2: Brainstorm how to write directions to tell someone how to make the same drawing. Remember, your partner can move the pencil only how you tell them to. 

STEP 3: Write the directions. Give them to a partner. This partner will be your “computer.” Can your partner draw exactly the same house as yours on grid paper?

STEP 4: Think about your instructions. Did they work? If not, rewrite and retest them.

Conclusions

1. What worked in your instructions and what didn’t? 

2. Compare your instructions with those of another group. Did they do something that worked better? 

3. Why might it be important for people to give clear instructions to a computer?

1. What worked in your instructions? What didn’t? 

2. Compare your instructions with those of another group. Did they do something that worked better? 

3. Why might it be important to give clear instructions to a computer?

Computer Speak

Kate Francis

Step 1

Observe

Video games are played on computers. To design a video game, people create a computer program, a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do.

Video games run on computers. People design the games using a computer program. It’s a set of instructions. They tell a computer what to do.

Define the Problem

Can you direct a human “computer” to draw a house using written instructions?

• The house should have a roof, at least one window, and at least one door.
• The computer must perform actions based only on the instructions.
• Instructions can only describe how the pencil should move.

Can you direct a human “computer” to draw a house? You can give them only written instructions.

• The house should have a roof, at least one window, and at least one door.
• The computer must act only on the instructions.
• Instructions can explain only how the pencil should move.

Materials

• grid paper
• pencil
• eraser

• grid paper
• pencil
• eraser

Design a Solution

STEP 1: Draw a simple house on a sheet of grid paper.   

STEP 2: Brainstorm how to write directions to tell someone how to make the exact drawing. Remember your partner can only move the pencil as you say. 

STEP 3: Write the directions and give them to a partner. This partner will be your “computer.” Can your partner draw exactly the same house as yours on grid paper?

STEP 4: Evaluate your instructions. If your instructions didn’t work, rewrite and retest them.

STEP 1: Draw a simple house on a sheet of grid paper.   

STEP 2: Brainstorm how to write directions to tell someone how to make the same drawing. Remember, your partner can move the pencil only how you tell them to. 

STEP 3: Write the directions. Give them to a partner. This partner will be your “computer.” Can your partner draw exactly the same house as yours on grid paper?

STEP 4: Think about your instructions. Did they work? If not, rewrite and retest them.

Conclusions

1. What worked in your instructions and what didn’t? 

2. Compare your instructions with those of another group. Did they do something that worked better? 

3. Why might it be important for people to give clear instructions to a computer?

1. What worked in your instructions? What didn’t? 

2. Compare your instructions with those of another group. Did they do something that worked better? 

3. Why might it be important to give clear instructions to a computer?

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