Video Games

In the ongoing search to find an intervention that does away with opioids, a new game-based system has shown huge promise in tackling chronic neuropathic pain. Using a game and a headset, it "trains" patients to rewire brain signals to relieve pain.

Gamers free to interact with and explore a game world at their own pace are more relaxed and have improved mental well-being, according to new research. It could open the door to using gaming as a therapeutic tool to counter stress and anxiety.

An Oxford University study showed that playing the eponymous video game Powerwash Simulator showed a small improvement in the moods of more than 70% of its participants. In fact, it was found to be more effective than watching TV or reading.

New results from a clinical trial lasting over a year have shown playing crossword puzzles may be more effective at slowing age-related cognitive decline than modern video games specifically developed to improve memory.

A compelling new study suggests there may be some cognitive benefits associated with playing video games. The research found children that regularly play video games performed better on some cognitive tests compared to non-gaming children.

A great deal of attention is often given to the negative effects of video games. But for several years researchers have discovered games also have the capacity to generate a number of cognitive benefits, including improvements to decision-making skills.

Screen time is generally considered to be a negative influence on a child’s development but a new study makes a strikingly different case, presenting evidence that playing video games may actually boost a child’s intelligence.

A trial has found a specific type of video-game therapy is as effective as traditional methods of rehabilitation in patients recovering from a stroke. The trial also found the therapy reduces the need for face-to-face time with therapists by 80 percent.

A study from the University of Oxford has analyzed 30 years of data tracking the relationship between young peoples’ technology engagement and mental health, from television watching to smartphone social media use, and found little to no association.

A first-of-its-kind study from Oxford University has investigated the relationship between well-being and time spent playing video games. The surprising findings revealed a small correlation between longer play-times and positive well-being.

Video games are often associated with laziness, but they often use those engaging reward systems to help people's fitness. The latest is Quell, a game about punching your way through a fantasy world while getting a high-intensity boxing workout.

A study has followed thousands of teenagers tracking associations between screen time and depression. The research separated types of screen time, and found TV and social media activity correlated with increased symptoms of depression, but video game and computer use had little negative effect.