Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Pac Man Nostalgia Helps Enhance Memory?

Posted by simoniker on from the but-don't-imagine-you're-a-ghost dept.

Thanks to icWales, who have a brief report revealing claims that playing classic videogames can help enhance your memory. The report reveals: "Researchers found that playing video games such as Pac Man and Space Invaders induced a 'positive emotional state' connected to a past happy memory. That in turn increased the players' focus, attention and memory." Apparently, the more oldschool the game, the better the results, since the unattributed, rather bizarre survey claims: "Games from the 1980s triggered the biggest improvement in memory, followed by games from the 1990s."

6 of 30 comments (clear)

  1. Nostalgia in out old age by glassesmonkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    It occurs to me from this article on a bigger implication of our loving fond memories of the arcade. A lot of research on Alzheimer's suggest you let people 'live' in an earlier era in their memory. That means for us when we get old they can just put us in front of the table top asteroids and Ms. PacMan and enjoy the happiness on our faces. (Assuming carpal-tunnel hasn't rendered us gimpy)

  2. Studies also show... by Bob+Cat+-+NYMPHS · · Score: 4, Funny

    that /. will post ANYTHING when it's the middle of the night in the US, just to annoy its readers living in other time zones.

    Can you imagine, it's lunchtime in New Dehli, and you eagerly go to /. to read up on 'Stuff that Matters' and you see THIS.

    --
    The latest Slashdot meme.
  3. Not just pacman... by InsaneCreator · · Score: 3, Funny

    video games such as Pac Man and Space Invaders induced a 'positive emotional state'

    Well, playing Daikatana makes me "go to my happy place".

  4. Proof... by sammaffei · · Score: 4, Funny

    I just played Donkey Kong on MAME...

    Now, I remember where I put my hammer.

    I also found my girfriend's purse and umbrella.

    --

    Political correctness is the newest form of slavery.

  5. They also DIE sooner too! by mabhatter654 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Notice that school teachers live a very long time being relitively poor and Doctors almost always die young! Here's your reason. I'd theorize that brains "die" from non-play just like any other organ would. You'll find no CEO's, accountants, MBA, etc in the old folks home now days...they are all getting diapers changed! Teachers spend their days around kids! They live diciplined lives, and get to "relive" youthful memories of older classes for years to come. My grandmother was 90 and could still remember names of students in her first classes [1930's] She also learned to use Word [again at 90!] Teachers [and the like] never stop learning! That is one of the keys to staying alive. Of course many /.er fit this too.

    America is at or past the human limit of productivity...we work nearly as many hours as child labor in India...and are starting to see the same health problems eliminated in the 1950's.

    As far as at-work happiness goes, you are correct! BUT...this only proves that 50-60 hour weeks are physically damaging over long periods. Play is an important part of living too. Just becuse it's not "unit producing" time doesn't mean it's wasted. [though most companies expect to throw away employees over 50 nowdays rather than change their business to be more civil] Of course, you should be doing this with your KIDS! Then you share happy memories [and lessons] with them, while making new ones for them to have. But it's kind of hard to do that when the "overbearing" boss wants 60 hours a week for food on the table! This only proves what the europeans already know about work hours...and for a "civilized" society it is apalling how much americans are required to work. This looks to prove that it is indeed criminal to make people work that much!

  6. It doesn't really surprise me... by Dutchmaan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ..that games from the 80's would be more of a mental trigger. They were much more simple, repetative, and pattern oriented. ..and most like playing those games would establish more specific and stronger base neural pathways than games of today.

    Games today would easily develop more complex and motion, space, and coordination oriented skills.

    I'd be interested to see what parts of the brain that different games stimulate.