Can Video Games Improve the Ability to Focus?

Abstract

Have you heard of ADHD? It stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a condition that makes focusing difficult. Under the right conditions, video games can be used to treat ADHD. People with ADHD often have a harder time completing tasks than people without ADHD. When playing a serious video game designed as a treatment, a person with ADHD can improve their ability to concentrate on completing a task. This works when video games are designed to reward the player after each success, because it trains the player’s brain to focus on one task at a time. In this article, we will provide an overview of attention and ADHD, discuss the benefits and risks of video games, describe the features of serious games, and highlight the first video game that doctors prescribe to kids with ADHD.