Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have found that playing puzzle video games helps people improve their cognitive functions.
After looking at different genres, the study discovered that "Cut the Rope," a physics-based puzzle game, did the best job at improving executive brain functions, which refer to cognitive tasks such as memory, planning, problem-solving and decision making, according to The New York Daily News.
"This finding is important because previously, no video games have demonstrated this type of broad improvement to executive functions, which are important for general intelligence, dealing with new situations and managing multitasking," said Dr. Michael D. Patterson, co-author of the study.
The researchers chose different games, including shooting game "Modern Combat," arcade game "Fruit Ninja" and real-time strategy game "StarFront Collision," to bring variety to the study, TheHealthSite reported. Patterson, an expert in the psychology of video games, said none of these games were able to improve executive functions in players.
The study had 52 non-gaming NTU undergraduates play different games one hour each day, five days a week for one month with their iPhone or iPod Touch. Patterson and Adam Oei, co-author and PhD student, said that out of all the players, those that played "Cut the Rope" showed the most improvements in their executive functions. "Cut of Rope" players were able to switch between objectives 33 percent faster than other players after 20 hours of playing. They were also able to adapt to new situations 30 percent quicker and concentrate better by 60 percent.
"This indicates that while some games may help to improve mental abilities, not all games give you the same effect," Oei said. "To improve the specific ability you are looking for, you need to play the right game."
Patterson believes that "Cut the Rope" is able to help players because it forces players to change their strategies, while other games use the same general mechanics, The New York Daily News reported.
"This result could have implications in many areas such as educational, occupational and rehabilitative settings," he said. "In the future, with more studies, we will be able to know what type of games improves specific abilities, and prescribe games that will benefit people aside from just being entertainment."
The study, which is available now online, will be published this summer in the journal Computers in Human Behavior.
