Reading: Think Smart: By Richard Restak pages 116-150

    In part 4, Richard Restak explains how one can use technology to achieve a more powerful brain. Although many parents say, "Video games are a waste of time and make you dumber," video games actually increase your brain activity through focus and motor speed. The effect induced by regular video gaming can be compared to what occurs in the brain of a concert pianist. The best example of video game applications are flight simulators, for they overall improve your abilities of actually flying an aircraft. In a study conducted at Bavalier University, it reported that those who played video games had an 80 percent accuracy rate of speed sight recording while those who did not had a 30 percent accuracy.
    Next, the author goes into video games and the mature brain rather than the mind of youths and young adults. In adults astonishing numbers of brain enhancement have been found through the use of video games. In recent polls, it is noted that those that play video games over 40 are actually playing games for longer sessions than those of younger ages. Video games actually help with a faster processing speed. However, video games aren't the only source for brain improvement because they are found to be easily addicting. Also, it depends on what kind of games you are playing, action games help with speedy determination, while other games like Grand Theft Auto prove to be negative impacts.
    Another from of enhancement is brain gyms. Brain gyms can be referred to as any puzzle, riddle, illusion, exc. that requires the individual to produce deep thought for an answer. Riddles especially are beneficent for brain function because the answer is specific, but the brain shoots off on a hunt of many tangents to find possible answers. Through research it is found that individuals who interact themselves with brain puzzles daily or weekly develop much faster speed interpretation and overall intelligence. For instance, A crossword a day could greatly help the brain, and even in the long run help prevent disease.
Response:
  I must say that this book is pretty awesome. I have learned a plethora of new facts that I can use for essays or even conversations. I am one of the few minority that does not play video games. I used to play them all the time during my sophomore year, but recently in the Summer I realized how much time I spent in the artificial world versus the real world and decided I was missing out on valuable free time. I don't regret my decision because now I am receiving much higher grades and have more time to do other activities. However this research on video game brain enhancement has interested me in noticing things about those who do play video games. I used to have a friend back in Pennsylvania that would play video games 24/7. He was my neighbor and I'll admit he was very good at "powning noobs" as he called it. My friend was plain out terrible in school and basically flunked every class, however, in science we did a reaction time test and his speed was far beyond any other class mates. So I guess video games does have its ups and downs.