Studies confirm that confidence boosting videogames may soothe your nerves
Video games designed to change people’s perception of social threats and boost self-confidence have been found to have another positive impact — it can also help keep stress at bay. The games, designed by researchers at McGill University, helps by reducing the production of the stress-related hormone cortisol by 17 per cent it was found.
“We already knew that it was possible to design games to allow people to practice new forms of social perception, but we were surprised by the impact this had when we took the games out of the lab and into the context of people’s stressful lives,” said McGill psychology professor Mark Baldwin.
Prof Baldwin and his team – McGill PhD graduates Stéphane Dandeneau and Jodene Baccus and graduate student Maya Sakellaropoulo – have been developing a suite of video games that train players in social situations to focus more on positive feedback rather than
being distracted and deterred by perceived social slights or criticisms. Back in the year 2004, the researchers, conducting a study on 56 students, found that a standard reaction-time test showed that the game, helped people shift the way they processed social information.
The researchers then decided to check and see whether the game also had any effects on stress. They then conducted another study involving 23 employees of a Montreal-based call centre. Their employees were asked to play one of their games, which involves clicking on the one smiling face among many frowning faces on a screen as quickly as possible. Through repetitive playing, the game trains the mind to orient more toward positive aspects of social life.
They volunteers were asked to do this each workday morning for a week. They also had to fill out daily stress and self-esteem questionnaires. Their cortisol levels were then tested through saliva analysis on the final day of the experiment.
These tests showed an average 17-percent reduction in cortisol production compared to a control group that played a similar game but without the smiling faces, said Prof Baldwin.
ANI
Now videogames can recommend a gym regime too
Video Games
Parents' concerns about video games include the time their kids spend playing them, the physical effects of an inactive lifestyle, and the violent or sexist content of many games.
Playing video games can be a positive family experience if you understand the issues involved, choose games wisely and control the amount of time your children spend in front of the screen
Video Games
Good-quality video games offer lots of benefits to kids. They can:
• provide a fun and social form of entertainment
• encourage teamwork and cooperation when played with others
• make kids feel comfortable with technology—particularly important for girls, who don't use technology as much as boys
• increase children's self-confidence and self-esteem as they master games
• develop skills in reading, math, and problem-solving
• improve eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills
Check out the Choosing Good Games for Your Kids section for help in finding great games from your kids.
Choosing Video Games for your kids
• Think about your children's interests when looking for games. Are they interested in sports, fantasy or strategy-style games?
• Talk to other parents for advice and suggestions of good games.
• Find games that have the appropriate Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating for your child's age. But be aware that even games with the seemingly benign "Everyone" rating can still contain a great deal of violence.
• Look for games that are challenging and exciting without being violent. Video game manufacturers create violent games to satisfy children's need to feel powerful and in control. Try to find games that offer kids thrills and the chance to experience control in a non-violent way.
• Find games that require strategy and problem-solving skills. If they have an educational component, that's a bonus.
• When choosing games for girls, look for ones that have strong, non-stereotypical female characters.
• Video games are expensive, so make sure the game has good play value before you buy. Talk to other parents, read gaming magazines and check out some of the great game review sites for parents on the Web. (See listing on the right sidebar). If possible, try the game first by borrowing or renting it. Ask for an in-store demo and make sure you can return the game if you are not satisfied with the content.
• Look for games that involve two players, to encourage cooperative play and to make game-playing a social activity
games
may soothe your nerves 
ideo games
designed to change people’s perception of social threats and boost self-confidence have been found to have another positive impact — it can also help keep stress at bay. The games
, designed by researchers at McGill University, helps by reducing the production of the stress-related hormone cortisol by 17 per cent it was found. 
to allow people to practice new forms of social perception, but we were surprised by the impact this had when we took the games
out of the lab and into the context of people’s stressful lives,” said McGill psychology professor Mark Baldwin. 
games
that train players in social situations to focus more on positive feedback rather than
being distracted and deterred by perceived social slights or criticisms. Back in the year 2004, the researchers, conducting a study on 56 students, found that a standard reaction-time test showed that the game
, helped people shift the way they processed social information. 
also had any effects on stress. They then conducted another study involving 23 employees of a Montreal-based call centre. Their employees were asked to play one of their games
, which involves clicking on the one smiling face among many frowning faces on a screen as quickly as possible. Through repetitive playing, the game
trains the mind to orient more toward positive aspects of social life. 
but without the smiling faces, said Prof Baldwin. 
games
can recommend a gym regime too 
