Serious Play 2021 Online – How Games Change Your Brain

About 40% of the global population plays video games, and that number doubled during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Binging video games is never good, but when they are played in reasonable doses they can have positive effects on brain plasticity and behavior. In this session, we’ll take a closer look at how games have been shown to increase, not decrease, efficiency in the brain networks that control attention. We’ll consider the cognitive demands associated with multitasking in a game-based environment, and how those skills can help players navigate their increasingly complex world. You’ll also learn how games can positively impact eyesight, attention and visual processing. Once we recognize the cognitive impact of games, we can start thinking about how to harness their benefits to improve learning. We’ll look at different types of educational games and discuss how they can help you develop different cognitive skills. We’ll also show you virtual games that can be used to foster friendly competition and interaction, and increase attention and engagement. Ultimately, this session will show you how to leverage the power of games to make the brain work smarter, better, and faster.