Ask Dr Miriam

Q

I’m really worried about my grandchildren spending so much time on computer games. Nothing I say will stop them. What do you think?

A

Well, scientists are coming around to the belief that playing computer games can make you smarter as the games require the use of memory which can boost educational achievement and fight off dementia. And it’s the same for children.

The UK’s Medical Research Council did tests on children aged 8-11 to boost their working memory using home computers and 20 training sessions. Each session lasted half an hour. Researchers found that the children got better at remembering as they repeated the games even if the games got more difficult. Scans of their brains showed increased strength of “neural connectivity”, the wiring of the brain, when the child was at rest. Watching my own grandchildren play computer games has made me suspect that may be the case. They’re so quick and adept, plus they always put me right if I have a question about my phone!