Forget teenagers -- seniors got game

December 22, 2006

Seniors should fold the cards in favor of video games to keep mentally sharp, Canadian researchers suggest.

Psychology research McMaster University in Hamilton showed senior gamers who spend at least four hours a week playing action video games display an array of skills, the Toronto Star said Thursday. Doing battle in Medal of Honor drew out skills such as improved reaction times and good spatial reasoning to a awareness of their surroundings and better short-term memory.

"Just as an elderly adult may do 15 minutes of weight training to fight osteoporosis, so could he or she play video games to keep the mind sharp," said psychology researcher Jim Karle, a graduate student in the university's department of psychology, neuroscience and behavior.

With as few as 10 hours of training, non-gamers begin to demonstrate the same mental strengths, Karle said.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International


print this article email this article download pdf blog this article bookmark this article     Stumble it Digg this share on Facebook retweet share on Reddit add to delicious
Rate this story - 3.5 /5 (2 votes)


December 22, 2006 all stories

Comments: 0

3.5 /5 (2 votes)
  • Stumble this up

  • Digg this

  • share this

  • hide
  • Related Stories

  • The upside of feeling down
    created Nov 09, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0
  • Study finds high volume video gamers have more difficulty staying attentive
    created Oct 22, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0
  • Red card for faking footballers
    created Sep 16, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0
  • Parents can help stop the obesity epidemic, says psychologist
    created Aug 08, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0
  • Educate yourself to boost achievement in kids
    created Aug 06, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0



  • hide
  • Relevant PhysicsForums posts

  • Can you help me ?
    created Dec 08, 2009
  • Nociceptors
    created Dec 05, 2009
  • Nanomaterials destroy cancer!
    created Nov 30, 2009
  • Nuclear Medicine
    created Nov 30, 2009
  • More from Physics Forums - Medical Sciences

Other News

Researchers identify barriers to HPV vaccination uptake in low-income populations

Medicine & Health / Cancer

created 3 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Results of two separate studies show lower rates of HPV vaccination in low-income populations, and identify vaccination barriers and tailored interventions that may help to increase HPV vaccine uptake rates.


Think again about keeping little ones so squeaky clean

Medicine & Health / Research

created 7 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (6) | comments 2

A new Northwestern University study suggests that American parents should ease up on antibacterial soap and perhaps allow their little ones a romp or two in the mud --- or at least a much better acquaintance with everyday ...


Grinch likely depressed, suffers from lack of love, joy, expert says (w/ Video)

Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry

created 8 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- Being irritable, grumpy and seeking social isolation are also hallmarks of depression, and could explain the Grinch's disdain for the Who -- the tall and the small -- his mistreatment of his dog Max and, ...


Testosterone does not induce aggression

Medicine & Health / Neuroscience

created 11 hours ago | popularity 4.6 / 5 (5) | comments 6

New scientific evidence refutes the preconception that testosterone causes aggressive, egocentric, and risky behavior. A study at the Universities of Zurich and Royal Holloway London with more than 120 experimental subjects ...


Pistachios may reduce lung cancer risk

Medicine & Health / Cancer

created 5 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

A diet that incorporates a daily dose of pistachios may help reduce the risk of lung and other cancers, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, ...