Video games improve the mental abilities of older people. This conclusion was reached by scientists working at the University of Montreal..

Older people who use video games not only improve memory, but also start to work more actively in the brain. In the experiment, 33 participants were observed. Their age was 55-75 years, the VladTime news agency notes..

They were divided into three groups. In one of them, older people were not offered increased activity beyond what was familiar to them.. Participants of the second were taught to play the piano. In the third group, the elderly were asked to play Super Mario 64 all the time..

Group members were followed up for six months.. For a more accurate analysis of the results, MRI scanning and cognitive tests were used..

Those who played video games or learned to play the piano showed a significant increase in gray matter located in the cerebellum.

Those who played Super Mario 64 also showed improvement in short-term memory and the appearance of additional gray matter in the part of the brain that is responsible for the transition of memory to long-term memory..

In “novice pianists”, scientists noted the growth of gray matter in the area of \u200b\u200b\\u200b\\u200bthe cerebral cortex responsible for planning and decision making.

In the third group, all participants had a decrease in the amount of gray matter.

aspect. net.