James 1

Name: Jaleel James 20152822

Date: September 30, 2016
Introduction
Take a second and list all of the stereotypes you can think of relating to video games. You
probably came up with some like gamers are lazy, gamers are antisocial or gamers always have
their rooms messy and filled with chips and soda. (Attention Getter:) Interestingly enough, an
article by NBC News shows studies have found that surgeons, who regularly play video games
make 37% fewer errors and perform tasks 27% faster than their peers. (Dobnik)
(Thesis Statement:) That being said, today I would like to inform you that video games increase
one's IQ, reaction time and provides balance for those that suffer from multiple sclerosis.
Body
1. (Videogames increases the IQ of those playing them.)

a. [Games that feature quick moving targets, increases IQ as they require the user to
make rapid, accurate decisions. (Griffiths)]

Under the initial layer of graphics that we all see lies most times a complex
puzzle. One in which each action leads to a certain result and one needs to find
the way to obtain the optimal result. According to Dr. Shawn Green, assistant
professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Dr. Aaron Seitz, of University
of California Riverside, games that feature quick moving targets, Action video
games in particular, include large amounts of clutter, and that require the user to
make rapid, accurate decisions - have particularly positive cognitive impacts.

b. A test done by Dr. Brian Glass from Queen Mary’s School of Biological and
Chemical Sciences, shows the volunteers who played the most complex version of
the video game performed the best in the post-game psychological tests.
(Okhandiar)

c. Strategy games with alternate endings gives gamers the power to choose and deal
with the result of such tasks. Games such as Call of Duty Black Ops and Far Cry
4’s endings depend mainly on actions performed during the game. Such games
make the gamer more aware of his or her choices and actions throughout the
game.
 James 2

(Transitional Sentence:) Along with the higher IQ comes a higher reaction time that allows
one to use their higher IQ faster.
2. (Videogames boosts one’s awareness hence increasing their reaction time.)

Have you ever heard of the phrase executive functioning? Executive functioning refers to
a person’s ability to allot his or her mental resources (such as perception, attention,
memory) in ways that allow for rapid, efficient problem solving or decision-making.
Many experiments have shown positive effects of video-game training on measures of
executive functioning.

a. High paced games forces gamers to be on guard and react quickly to a new
change. Gamers were 25% faster in correct decisions and this is according to tests
done by the (University Of Rochester). Action games, racing games and other
games that includes fast moving targets requires the gamer to have a heightened
sense of awareness to perform well.

b. Research shows that action games in particular significantly improved test

subjects score on the Multi-Attribute Task Battery test. (Gray) More accurately,
Chiappi and colleagues found that 50 hours of experience on an action video
game significantly improved performance on the test. Experiments went on to
prove that action video games improve people’s abilities to switch rapidly and
without error between tasks that have conflicting demands.

c. Gamers are able to make a positive decision about an important matter in a shorter
space of time. The require a shorter amount of time to make the correct choice as
their reaction time has increased without dulling their minds.

(Transitional Statement:) Not only does video games have a positive effect on the mental
state of a person, it affects also their mental wellbeing.
 James 3

3. (Videogames provide balance for multiple sclerosis patients:)

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central

nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the
brain and body. Multiple sclerosis patients often have problems with their balance. Sadly,
there are no medications for MS. However, MS patients who played games requiring
physical interaction while standing on a balance board displayed improvement afterward.

a. Laura De Giglio from Sapienza University hosted a multiple sclerosis program in

which patients played videogames and the end results were a substantial increase
of connectivity in the thalamus – on of the areas of the brain that plays cognition-
related brain networks. (Kegel)

b. This means that even a widespread and common use tool like video games can
promote brain plasticity and can aid in cognitive rehabilitation for people with
neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. Though there isn’t a cure, many
facilities use videogames to aid in cognitive rehabilitation.

c. Multiple Sclerosis patients shows increases in thought process since the game
requires information to be processed quickly. This again, is an important plus as
MS is responsible for disrupting the flow of information within the brain.
Videogames starts back the flow of information thus playing a major role in MS
rehabilitation.

(Transitional Statement) Videogames play an important role even in the wellbeing of a

person.
Conclusion
First, I described the effects that video games gave on the gamer’s IQ. Second, I examined
the way it changes the brain increasing reaction time and decreasing decision making time.
Third, I have discussed how it positively helps with multiple sclerosis. Videogames
significantly impact the life of a gamer; however, it isn’t in a negative manner as one would
readily assume but a positive one. Now that your eyes are opened can you still say gamers
are just lazy, antisocial negative bunch?
 James 4

Works Cited

David Lowry, Ph.D. Parents. 2016. Web. 27 September 2016.

Dobnik, Verena. NBC News. 4 July 2004. Web. 30 September 2016.

Gray, Peter. Psycology Today. 20 February 2015. Web. 27 September 2016.

Griffiths, Sarah. Daily Mail. 8 August 2016. Web. 27 September 2016.

Kegel, Magdalena. Multiple Sclerosis News Today. 10 March 2016. Web. 27 September 2016.

Okhandiar, Neha. QMUL. 21 August 2013. Web. 27 Septemver 2016.

University Of Rochester. Rochester. 13 September 2010. Web. 30 September 2016.