video games
 

anyone try video games to improve processing speed? it would seem to me that any game which has a lot going on at once and requires you to react to the events would help. thoughts?

Video games are like using a firehose to wash your car.

Processing speed is a chemical/metabolic process. I don't think you can change it by pushing the envelope, at least not with a less than healthy brain. A healthy brain may be slow due to lack of focus and other issues. The injured brain is slow due to inefficient white matter. The health of the axons/white matter is the key factor in improving processing speed.

Stressing the brain with video games would be counter to supporting good health. A panic attack is an attempt by the brain to speed up processing speed but failing because the brain cannot handle the extra stress load.

Why do you think you have slowed processing speed ?

Here's a study on video games for TBI recovery that you might find interesting. The U.S. military is looking at this to treat brain injured veterans. Note, however, that the games are designed for this purpose.
http://www.traumaticbraininjury.net/...elp-treat-tbi/

If you look at the types of symptoms being targeted, it appears they have very struggling brains. They need to rehab motor control and more serious brain functions. This sounds more like classic brain training (Lumosity, Fit Brains, etc) except using a gaming style to encourage continued participation.

Research into brain training shows it improves skills at doing the specific tasks used in each exercise but that the improvements do not cross over into other brain skills.

Many injured brains need to be retaught to focus and make decisions. Those improvements make take a subjects skills from a 30% level to a 60% level but it will be harder to take those skills from a 60% level to a 90+% level.

I think that games or exercises that target specific skills would be more effective compared to retail variety video games that tend to be sensory intense.

Mark: true re: damage to white matter but presumably other areas can adjust? also, like a muscle injury, wouldn't slowly using the area increase blood flow to that portion of brain and therefore healing?

Hockey: interesting, will take a look. thanks.

There is no work-around for struggling white matter. There is no substitute for white matter. Brain tissue does not heal like muscles. Yes, you want to provide good blood flow but the complexity of axons, myelin sheath, and such means they need to heal at their pace. Keeping the blood flow strong and nutrition healthy without increasing chemical stress is the key.

What makes you think you need to increase processing speed ?

This is all very interesting. I sustained a severe TBI in 2001. I used to be a major gamer. Would play for hours. RPG's my specialty. Now? Can't. Too much action on the screen to process and gives headache if I play too long. I still like my car games, but [emoji29] no patience. Feel seizure activity. Does anybody else feel too? I'm on stuff, but...


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chrybmb,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Wow, it sounds like you have had quite an injury.

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