Re: Video Games Linked to Attention Problems

[Guest guest]

Sorry Jeanne's message shouldn't have gone through the way it did with just

links -here is the article ~

TV, video games cause kids' attention problems

ANI, Jul 7, 2010, 05.03pm IST

A new study has found that both viewing television and playing video games are

linked with increased attention problems in youths.

The research found that children who exceeded the two hours per day of screen

time were 1.5 to 2 times more likely to be above average in attention problems.

" There isn’t an exact number of hours when screen time contributes to

attention problems, but the AAP recommendation of no more than two hours a day

provides a good reference point, " said Swing of Iowa State University

(ISU).

" Most children are way above that. In our sample, children’s total average

time with television and video games is 4.26 hours per day, which is actually

low compared to the national average, " he added.

The researchers assessed 1,323 children in third, fourth and fifth grades over

13 months, using reports from the parents and children about their video game

and television habits, as well as teacher reports of attention problems.

Another group of 210 college students provided self-reports of television

habits, video game exposure and attention problems.

Gentile of ISU said that the pace of television programming might also

have some brain-changing effects when it comes to attention span.

" If we train the brain to require constant stimulation and constant flickering

lights, changes in sound and camera angle, or immediate feedback, such as video

games can provide, then when the child lands in the classroom where the teacher

doesn’t have a million-dollar-per-episode budget, it may be hard to get

children to sustain their attention " he said.

The researchers have also said that TV and video game viewing may be one

contributing factor for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in

children.

" We know that the brain adapts and changes based on the environmental stimuli to

which it is exposed repeatedly.

Therefore, it is not unreasonable to believe that environmental stimuli can

increase the risk for a medical condition like ADHD in the same way that

environmental stimuli, like cigarettes, can increase the risk for cancer, "

Gentile said.

Swing points out that the associations between attention problems and TV and

video game exposure are significant, but small.

" It is important to note that television or video game time cannot solely

explain the development of attention problems, " he said. " Clearly other factors

are involved. "

Their study was published in Paediatrics -- the journal of the American Academy

of Paediatrics.

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