According to a recent study noted in ‘The Independent’ and published in ‘Nature Neuroscience’, video games involving targeting objects (Call of Duty, for example) can improve a person’s night vision.
“Scientists found that games involving aiming and shooting at virtual objects on a computer screen can significantly increase people’s ability to see objects in twilight conditions, when colours fade into different shades of grey.”
The eye’s ability to differentiate shades of gray, called contrast sensitivity, decreases when a person is near or far-sighted, when they age, and with certain eye diseases.
Though playing video games should not replace the need for glasses or contacts, the brain actually learns to process existing visual information more efficiently. These improvements are not permanent, but can last for a few months after game play stops. In situations where lighting is dim, ie driving at dusk or in the fog, or if you’re doing eye exams all day in the dark :), improved contrast sensitivity can make a significant difference.
They found that video game players’ ability to detect different shades of grey was 58 per cent better on average. People who were not regular game players were put through a course involving hours of console gaming. When they had completed the course, their contrast sensitivity had improved by 43 per cent on average.
Of course, weigh the good and the bad. Video games should be played in moderation. Your eyes will strain and dry with too much play and the rest of your body doesnt’ benefit a whole lot (your mind and your metabolism).
