RSS

Dyk #6: Tetris a cure?

February 24, 2011

Did You Know, Psychology

Did you know…

That Tetris can be a cure for psychological trauma?

Oxford University researchers hypothesized that “playing Tetris after witnessing violence would sap some of the cognitive resources the brain would normally use to form memories”.

A study in the journal PLoS One (2009) confirmed this hypothesis. Tetris acts as a “vaccine” against traumatic memory. Their research suggests that memories are created in a 6-hour window after the traumatic experience and playing Tetris disrupts the creation of memories of the event.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

About Manon Eileen

Dutch 23-year-old SF/F YA writer, BSc in Psychology and soon MA in Global Criminology. She is creative, easily bored, and craves tea all the time. Also: "science isn't about why, it's about why not" - Cave Johnson.

View all posts by Manon Eileen →
  • http://www.billhubiak.com Bill Hubiak

    I found Tetris so addicting that years ago I removed it from my computer. It certainly does sap some of the brains resources.

    • Manon Eileen

      Oh yes, I agree, it’s awfully addicting!

      Thanks for stopping by, Bill :)

  • http://petersaintclair.wordpress.com Peter Saint-Clair

    I’m totally using this in my next story, Manon…thanks!

    • Manon Eileen

      W00t! ^_^ Glad I could provide something inspiring! :)

      Thank you, too, Peter!

  • http://piperbayard.wordpress.com Piper Bayard

    Fascinating, Manon. I have a friend who has seen quite a lot of combat. He spends a huge portion of his free time on non-violent computer games. This makes me wonder if the fact that it is soothing to him has some relation to this. All the best.

    • Manon Eileen

      Oh I bet… Tetris and similar games are so mindless, I guess, that you don’t have to really *think* about anything. I can see how it’s soothing, for sure.

      Thanks for stopping by, Piper :)

  • Pingback: Tweets that mention Tetris acts as a "vaccine" against traumatic memory! #games #research #psychology -- Topsy.com

  • http://indiegamedesign.blogspot.com Patrick Thunstrom

    That’s a really cool piece of information, I’ll need to obtain a copy of tetris on a handheld device just in case.

    • Manon Eileen

      Lol!!

      Thanks for stopping by, Patrick!

  • Pingback: The End Is Near (and we deserve it). . . . Thin Mint Assault « Author Piper Bayard