Research from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet has found that playing video games can enhance children’s intelligence. The study showed that children who played video games for extended periods saw an average increase of 2.5 IQ points over two years. In contrast, other screen activities such as watching TV or using social media had no significant effect on cognitive abilities. The study examined over 9,000 children in the United States, aged nine to ten, who underwent psychological testing to assess their intelligence and reported how much time they spent on various screen activities, including gaming, TV, and social media.

The study followed up with more than 5,000 of the children after two years to observe changes in their cognitive performance. These results were then controlled for various factors, including genetic differences, parental education, and income, to ensure that the findings focused on the impact of screen time alone. Children who played video games for longer periods of time were the only group that showed a notable increase in IQ compared to those who watched television or used social media. While the study did not explore other potential impacts of screen time, such as effects on physical health or school performance, the researchers concluded that video games can offer a unique cognitive benefit.

The findings support the notion that intelligence is not a fixed trait but can be shaped by environmental factors, such as gaming. Video games, particularly action or strategy-based ones, might enhance cognitive functions by stimulating problem-solving, strategic thinking, and hand-eye coordination. While the study acknowledges the limitations of not differentiating between types of video games, the increase in IQ among gamers highlights the potential intellectual benefits of this form of entertainment. However, the researchers also emphasized that more work is needed to understand how other environmental factors, like childhood brain development, play a role in shaping intelligence.

One limitation of the study is its focus on U.S. children, which may not fully represent the gaming habits or cognitive outcomes of children in other countries. The reliance on self-reported screen habits also leaves room for potential inaccuracies. Nonetheless, this research contributes to a growing body of evidence suggesting that video games can positively influence cognitive development, particularly in younger populations.

The study was led by Torkel Klingberg, professor of cognitive neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet, and funded by the Swedish Research Council and the Strategic Research Area Neuroscience (StratNeuro) at Karolinska Institutet.