Video gamers see more and think faster

Video games have their benefits. Yes, you read that correctly. Thanks to researchers at Duke University, there is proof that very intensive gaming can train the brain to digest visual data better and faster. How’s that for an unexpected perk?Though researchers declined the intense hobby themselves, they did study college students. Participants were either very intensive gamers or non-gamers. All were given a visual sensory memory task. Basically, they had to look at a screen on which eight letters would flash for one-tenth of a second. They were then asked to identify the letter that had appeared in a randomly-selected position. The gamers won – hands-down – in every variation of the test.Apparently, all human brains quickly filter out unused visual info. The difference? Gamers either collect more info than the rest of us, make better decisions, or both. Looks like gamers will have to volunteer for MRI brain scans to help scientists solve this puzzle. For now, they can continue to save the world in their virtual reality, while fine-tuning their minds in our reality.