BiotechMashup

(Association for Psychological Science) According to new findings, owning a video-game system may hamper academic development in some children. Boys who received a video-game system immediately had significantly lower reading and writing scores after four months than boys receiving a video-game system at the end of the experiment. Further analysis revealed that the time spent playing video games may link the relationship between owning a video-game system and reading and writing scores.

While video gaming is perceived as a pastime for children and young adults, the average age of US players is 35. Investigators analyzed survey data from 500+ adults (19 to 90) on health risks; media use behaviors and perceptions, including those related to video-game playing; and demographic factors. They found measurable correlations between video-game playing and health risks, including a higher BMI and a greater number of poor mental-health days.

(Elsevier Health Sciences) While video gaming is perceived as a pastime for children and young adults, the average age of US players is 35. Investigators from the CDC, Emory and Andrews Universities analyzed survey data from 500+ adults (19 to 90) on health risks; media use behaviors and perceptions, including those related to video-game playing; and demographic factors. In an article published in the October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, they found measurable correlations between video-game playing and health risks.

A new article argues that existing video game literature can't be classified in black and white terms. Instead, there's a vast gray area when considering the multiple dimensions of video game effects on kids -- with at least five dimensions on which video games can affect players simultaneously.

Both boys and girls who play video games tend to be more creative, regardless of whether the games are violent or nonviolent, according to new research.

The first comprehensive census of video game characters finds Latinos nearly invisible and women and other groups underrepresented. Combined with wide reach of video games and heavy play by minorities, findings suggest lack of representation in games may have significant social impacts.

Video game players are often accused of passively reacting to tasks that are spoon fed to them through graphics and stimuli on the screen. Researchers show that playing lots of video games has different effects on two types of cognitive activity, proactive and reactive attention.

Researchers have created a video game that will serve as a model to assess all aspects related to video games; it has also established a conceptual framework that will allow experts to assess players' experiences. The researchers based their study on their own experiences in previous projects where they developed educational resources and video games aimed at educational environments.

(University of Southern California) The first comprehensive census of video game characters finds Latinos nearly invisible and women and other groups underrepresented. Combined with wide reach of video games and heavy play by minorities, findings suggest lack of representation in games may have significant social impacts.