[wing-_-nuts]

>If you wanna believe that your hours on COD have made you a genius, go ahead, I won't stop you. Just don't imagine that this research proves it.

You know there are more video games styles than FPS right? Strategy games teach patience and discipline, EVE online teaches economics, even the much dismissed 'mindless' fps teach teamwork.

I think it's likely that at least some games do increase intelligence relative to other activities (i.e. mindlessly watching tv) but less so than others like reading.

[dijit]

> mindlessly

I think this is probably more key than you think.

Mindlessly watching junk food TV is not going to help you a lot. It's not very "nutrient rich" (to continue the expression) in terms of knowledge gained.. but you will probably gain some.

Watching documentaries and, crucially, actively watching them is probably very good in terms of how much you learn.

[wing-_-nuts]

It takes a certain kind of nerdy kid to sit down and watch a documentary (not judging, I was that certain kind of nerdy kid). With video games, the user, i.e. child is actively engaged. Video games require more from the consumer. I found myself much more likely to dig into history while playing civilization than I did while watching a documentary for example.

[svnt]

Actively engaged does not mean exercising higher cognitive function, and even less so developing higher cognitive function.

Imagine if e.g. basketball players never practiced but just played for all the marbles at the most competitive level every day when they stepped on the court. You would have chaos and exhausted players.