In today’s society, playing video games has become an increasingly common past time, with millions of individuals doing so every day. But whether PC gamers are smarter than people who don’t play video games is a topic of ongoing controversy. Others contend that playing video games might have a harmful impact on mental health and academic achievement, despite occasional claims to the contrary. To find out if PC gamers are in fact smarter than non-gamers, we will examine the connection between gaming and intellect in this article.
First off, it’s crucial to recognize that playing video games is still a very popular pastime. In fact, by 2023, it’s predicted that the worldwide video game sector would bring in more than $200 billion. Gaming is becoming more than simply a hobby thanks to the growth of esports and online gaming communities; it is also a competitive sport and a social platform. But the question still stands: Does gaming affect IQ in any way?
According to studies, playing video games can enhance cognitive capabilities like attention, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving ability. For instance, a University of Rochester study discovered that playing action video games can enhance visual attention and the capacity to track numerous objects simultaneously. Another study indicated that playing strategy-based video games can enhance working memory and problem-solving abilities. This study was published in the journal Intelligence. These findings imply that playing video games can enhance cognitive capacities, which may result in greater intellect.
Excessive gaming, it should be noted, can have a negative impact on both mental health and academic achievement. College students who played video games for longer than two hours per day had worse GPAs than those who played for less than two hours per day, according to a study that was published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. In addition, a study indicated that excessive gaming can cause depressive and anxious symptoms. This study was published in the journal Addictive Behaviors. These results imply that gaming should be done in moderation and that excessive gaming can have detrimental effects on mental health and academic achievement.
The connection between gaming and intelligence is complicated, to sum up. While playing video games might improve cognitive ability, too much gaming can be detrimental to one’s mental well-being and academic success. As a result, it’s crucial to play games in moderation and balance and to understand that they do not, by itself, determine cognitive levels. In the end, intelligence is a complex idea influenced by many different things, such as genetics, environment, and personal experiences.