Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
World of Warcraft: Giving Seniors a Brain Boost
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
In a new study conducted by North Carolina State University, researchers have discovered that World of Warcraft can give senior citizens a brain boost by improving spatial awareness, memory and help them to better focus their attention.
The study was conducted with people in the 60-77 age range. Half of the participants did not play WoW, the other half played about an hour a day over a two week period. After two weeks, participants were retested. Those playing WoW over the two week period showed 'marked improvement' in cognitive function.
“Among participants who scored well on baseline cognitive functioning tests, there was no significant improvement after playing WoW – they were already doing great,” McLaughlin says. “But we saw significant improvement in both spatial ability and focus for participants who scored low on the initial baseline tests.” Pre- and post-game testing showed no change for participants on memory.
“The people who needed it most – those who performed the worst on the initial testing – saw the most improvement,” says Dr. Jason Allaire, an associate professor of psychology at NC State and co-author of a paper on the study.
Read the full report at the link above.
Source: Gamasutra
Comments
Warning: People, don't make your grand parents farm you gold with the excuse of brain boost! Respect your elders
This just goes to show that no matter how old someone is, he or she still loves to beat the shit out of things.
Themepark MMOs - So easy, even a senile person can play.
For The Grey Horde!
World of Warcraft helped stimulate the elderly mind? Or was it the fact that they weren't sitting the same damn chair staring same television, watching the same damn classical television channel?
This just in stimulating your brain helps your brain. GROUND BREAKING SCIENCE!
GRIND, Grandpa! GRIND FOR YOUR LIFE!!!
"Those playing WoW over the two week period showed 'marked improvement' in cognitive function."
Unfortuantely it was also found their intelligence quotients had declined by nearly 75% though their vocabulary of humorous choices to add after the word "anal" had increased tenfold.
"Gypsies, tramps, and thieves, we were called by the Admin of the site . . . "
I could say is the palete of colours that help the brain in all these.Could it be the electronic lsd?lol
Yea , imagine only if they play boring game like GW, they would probably die from brain damage
I think this is pretty cool, really gives some support to the idea of there being an intellectual benefit to gaming. My grandmother is in her 80s and likes to play on her DS, I think it's played at least a small role in helping her keep active and mentally involved in the world around her.
I did a science fair thing on video games 20+ years ago which included a study that said the same thing about video games at THAT time.
So when I say this is old news...
It's really old news.
This could easily be said for any game. It gets them to focus, and to think. Oh my god what a suprise! Who would have ever thought that playing a game is better than staring at Matlock all day.
Let's start a clan for them called Greybush.
"I am not in a server with Gankers...THEY ARE IN A SERVER WITH ME!!!"
Show some evidence or it didn't happen ^^
Mission in life: Vanquish all MMORPG.com trolls - especially TESO, WOW and GW2 trolls.
I remember Nintendo Wii had a similar test with similar results...
Looks like gaming is good for you.
ok so the teachers are playing WoW and getting paid big bucks for it.
Even if they used World of Warcraft for this study, I think this article should've gone into the General section.
Its not WoW, its the style of game play.
hA! take taht teechers who thoght that playin viedo games made me stupid !1! it actchy make me smartter!
The way mmo's were: Community, Exploration, Character Development, Conquest.
The way mmo's are now : Cut-Scenes,Cut-Scenes, solo Questing, Cut-Scenes...
www.CeaselessGuild.com
Dangit Grandma! I said Gold Farm! Not Mine Gold! Back to work! *Cracks Whip*
In past I was whole life very sensitive to getting vertigo, i.e. going in amusement parks, looking at fast moving screen in movies, ..... After few years of playing various wow, aoc, war, ... I have discovered for the first time in my life that was gone for good! Explanation from doctors to which I asked worked like their adaptation therapy with patients. I had problem at start ... but later all only improved. Of course in era of Pacman :-) this was never problem, but today games are very proactive, fast moving, whole screen is shaking, moving in all directions, ... Anyway ... may problem was solved + always had a blast with games. :-)
I'm happy that WoW can take credit for something every game ever has done before it once again.
I have to agree, i am not all that stunned by the fact that using your brain is good fro your brain... A bit like using your body is good for your body... What will they come up with next... Oxygen, it is good for your health.
This have been a good conversation
What a cynical lot you are! I'm 55 myself, and work with the elderly, and have plenty of older friends. Now none of them game, and if I was to tell them about this article, I'm sure they would find it interesting, as I did.
Yes, other games would have the same effect, but the study used WoW. Yes, other activities (crosswords, chess) might have similar effects, but actually there are things you get from playing mmorpgs which you don't get from chess or crosswords.
At least now they will understand all those Chuck Norris references.
I did a similar, however more anecdotal study on the effects of WoW on ages 12-25. It showed inverse results.
I think this is quite true! WoW has positive benefits for people of all ages socially and mentally. This is definitely something the old folks should read hahah. Fortunately I improve my cognition with supplements and I am 26. I use supplements like Alpha GPC and Piracetam to boost my mind for when I go into PvP beast mode lol. I would say this could help anyone too just like WoW can. There is some substantial information about nootropics at Smart Drugs for Thought I currently buy my Piracetam from SDfT, but I buy other noots from local vitamin stores because of the availability. I think Piracetam is almost on the verge of being banned, but the FDA can't put their fingers on it. Peace out gamerz!