Update: Playing videogames may be more cognitively beneficial than other forms of screentime like social media, watching videos/ TV

Welcome to a new edition of SharpBrains’ e‑newsletter, featuring timely brain & mental health news and a fun brain teaser to put your temporal lobes to good use 🙂 #1. Study finds that playing videogames may be more cognitively beneficial for children than other forms of screentime (social media, watching videos/ TV) “Here, we estimated the impact of different types of screen time (watching, socializing, or gaming) on children’s intelligence while controlling for the confounding effects of genetic differences in cognition and socioeconomic status … Broadly, our results are in line with research on the malleability of cognitive abilities from environmental factors, such as cognitive training and the Flynn effect.” Fascinating! Having said that… #2. Large neuroimaging study finds social isolation to be an early indicator of increased dementia risk “Social interaction is hugely important. One study found that the size of our social group is actually associated with the volume of the orbitofrontal cortex (involved in social cognition and emotion). But how many friends do we need? … It is hard to argue with the fact that humans are social animals and gain enjoyment from connecting with others, whatever age we are. But, as we are increasingly uncovering, it also crucial for the health of our cognition.” #3. UC study finds near-transfer of cognitive training to be necessary (yet not sufficient) for far-transfer, broader benefits “Some people do very well ...
Source: SharpBrains - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Brain/ Mental Health Education & Lifelong Learning Technology & Innovation anxiety brain health brain-teaser chronic pain cognition cognitive cognitive-functioning Cognitive-tests Cognitive-Training depression emotion FDA men Source Type: blogs