--- title: "Video games and the brain: what a study of 2,000 children found – Ascend Esports" url: https://ascendesport.ae/video-games-and-the-brain-research/ description: "Children who gamed for three or more hours a day did better on memory and impulse-control tasks in a large US study. What it does and doesn't prove." last_modified: 2026-11-09T17:07:03+04:00 site: "Ascend Esports" summary_for_agents: https://ascendesport.ae/llms.txt --- [Healthy Gaming](https://ascendesport.ae/category/healthy-gaming/) # Video games and the brain: what a study of 2,000 children found Children who gamed for three or more hours a day did better on memory and impulse-control tasks in a large US study. What it does and doesn't prove. ![](https://ascendesport.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/hammer.png) **Ascend Esports team** 19 May 2026 · 2 min read Share [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=Video%20games%20and%20the%20brain%3A%20what%20a%20study%20of%202%2C000%20children%20found%20https%3A%2F%2Fascendesport.ae%2Fvideo-games-and-the-brain-research%2F) [X](https://x.com/intent/post?text=Video%20games%20and%20the%20brain%3A%20what%20a%20study%20of%202%2C000%20children%20found&url=https%3A%2F%2Fascendesport.ae%2Fvideo-games-and-the-brain-research%2F) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fascendesport.ae%2Fvideo-games-and-the-brain-research%2F) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fascendesport.ae%2Fvideo-games-and-the-brain-research%2F) ![A young boy playing on a handheld console](https://ascendesport.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/video-games-and-the-brain-research.jpg) A young boy playing on a handheld console Headlines about gaming tend to swing between "it rots your brain" and "it makes kids smarter". A large study published in *JAMA Network Open* in 2022 gives a more useful picture. ## The study Researchers led by Bader Chaarani at the University of Vermont looked at **2,217 children aged 9 and 10** from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, the largest long-term study of brain development in the US. They compared children who played video games for **three or more hours a day** with children who **didn't play at all**. ## What they found - Gamers performed better on tasks measuring **impulse control** and **working memory**. - Brain scans showed differences in activity in areas linked to attention and memory during those tasks. - The results held after accounting for behaviour problems, mental health conditions and time spent watching videos. ## What it doesn't prove This was a snapshot, so it shows an **association**, not cause and effect. It's possible that children with stronger memory and attention are drawn to games. The data also didn't record which games children played. The researchers said follow-up data is needed. ## The takeaway for families Gaming isn't automatically harmful, and it can be linked with real cognitive strengths. The bigger picture still matters: three hours of gaming is fine on a day that also includes sleep, school, movement and friends, and a problem on a day that doesn't. That's the balance we coach for. See our guide to [healthy screen time](https://ascendesport.ae/healthy-screen-time-for-kids/). ## Sources - [Chaarani B, et al. Association of video gaming with cognitive performance among children. JAMA Netw Open 2022](https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.35721) - [Children who play video games show altered brain activity, PsyPost](https://www.psypost.org/children-who-play-video-games-show-altered-brain-activity-that-suggests-improved-cognitive-abilities/) ![](https://ascendesport.ae/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/hammer.png) Written by the Ascend Esports team Coaches, game builders and wellness specialists at Ascend Esports, the esports division of Ascend Innovations in Mirdif, Dubai. Questions about this article? [Ask Ascenzo](https://ascendesport.ae/video-games-and-the-brain-research/#chat). 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How much young players need, and five habits that protect it without banning games. 22 Sep 2026 · 2 min read [Healthy Gaming](https://ascendesport.ae/category/healthy-gaming/) ### [How much screen time is healthy? What the guidelines actually say](https://ascendesport.ae/healthy-screen-time-for-kids/) There is no magic number, but there are clear guidelines on activity, sleep and balance. Here is what the WHO and paediatric experts recommend, in plain… 8 Sep 2026 · 2 min read [Healthy Gaming](https://ascendesport.ae/category/healthy-gaming/) ### [Five-minute reset: posture and stretches every gamer should know](https://ascendesport.ae/stretches-and-posture-for-gamers/) Sitting still for long periods is hard on growing bodies. A quick posture check and five stretches you can do between matches. 4 Aug 2026 · 2 min read ## Ready to build your child's future? A free trial session, on-site in Mirdif or online. We reply within one business day. 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