Video games can make your brain BIGGER: Playing for 30 minutes a day 'boosts memory, ability to plan and dexterity' While some people might think getting engrossed in a video game is a waste of time, scientists have found they can increase the size of our brains. German researchers found video gaming causes increases in the brain regions responsible for spatial orientation, memory formation and strategic planning as well as fine motor skills. They believe the benefits of video gaming may also prove helpful in therapeutic interventions targeting psychiatric disorders. In order to examine how video games affect the brain, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Charité University Medicine St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus, asked adults to play Super Mario 64 for 30 minutes a day over a period of two months. A control group did not play the game and the researchers measured brain volume using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. They found that in comparison ...