Can Video Games Be Good For You?

Video games might actually be useful as a new form of medicine!

Yep! You heard it right. There are researchers working towards developing games that can enhance our everyday brain use and can be prescribed to be used to support the treatment of things like ADHD, autism, and depression.

They’re aiming to build a new type of treatment that doesn’t involve chemicals and creates a unique experience for each patient.

The Verge shows us how this new “digital medicine” works with a trip to Neuroscape, a center working to integrate technology and neuroscience!

Prescription video games - YouTube

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Prescription video games The Verge

Why It Matters

Neuroscape’s work is a great example of out of the box thinking that tests our assumptions. We hear a lot about how video games are bad for us. Yes, hours of sitting in front of a television without moving is unhealthy, but these researchers have challenged the assumptions many people have about video games to create something that could help a lot of people.

What other innovations or insights could we be missing because of what we assume? How can good research practices help change people’s minds for the better? These are important questions to ask together as we use technology to improve our lives!

Let's Talk About It

  1. Why might it be important for us to challenge our assumptions or beliefs about things?
  2. Why do you think it is important that Neuroscape does so much research as they develop their video games?
  3. Beyond being fun, what are some of the possible benefits you’ve experienced from video games?

Citations

Verge, The. “Prescription Video Games.” YouTube, The Verge, 25 July 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS_HDxQxxqw. Accessed 12 Dec. 2018.