🏁 Axios Finish Line: Gaming for the brain

Plus: Double rainbow | Monday, October 31, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Meta   Axios Finish Line By Mike Allen, Erica Pandey and Jim VandeHei ·Oct 31, 2022 Oct 31, 2022 Welcome back. We're at finishline@axios.com. Smart Brevity™ count: 335 words ... 1½ mins.     1 big thing: Dismantling conventional video game wisdom Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios   Video games have long been a source of stress for parents and teachers who worry that gaming might be distracting kids or hindering their ability to concentrate. But a new study from researchers at the University of Vermont's Department of Psychiatry suggests that gaming might benefit kids' brains. 💡 Why it matters: Video games are the future of play — and the fact that they might help kids under the right circumstances is encouraging news for parents. The study looked at more than 2,000 children, ages 9 and 10. It tested children who game at least 21 hours a week and those who didn't play at all, Axios Gaming author Stephen Totilo writes. They intentionally chose an extreme amount of gaming, exceeding the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that children play no more than an hour or two of games a day. 🖼️ The big picture: The gamers did better than non-gamers in tests where they had to control impulsive behavior or memorize information. During those tests, researchers observed that the gamers' brains showed more activity in regions associated with attention and memory. Researchers isolated game-playing as the differentiating factor, ruling out gender, parental income and even video viewing, among other variables. Worth noting: The scientists could not establish cause and effect. The study is inconclusive over whether games deliver cognitive benefits or if those with cognitive benefits sought out games. 🧠 Reality check: Games can still come with risks, and many parents don't understand the world of gaming too well. Catch up on how to work games into family life with Stephen's guide, which demystifies video games for parents. Share this story.     A message from Meta Building more efficient cities will be possible with the metaverse     In the metaverse, urban planners will bring their designs to life and collaborate with engineers, architects and public officials in real time — paving the way for less congested cities. The metaverse may be virtual, but the impact will be real. Learn how Meta is helping build the metaverse.     ✈️ America from the sky Photo courtesy of Rita Y. Some of the best views of U.S. cities can be seen from your 9-by-12-inch airplane window. Finish Line reader Rita Y. agrees. She snapped this photo of a double rainbow over Arizona while landing in Phoenix about a month ago.   Thanks to Amy Stern for copy editing Finish Line. Are you a fan of this email format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 300 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: