PLAYING video games may do more than entertain; it could also provide a modest boost to memory and other cognitive skills, according to a new review of more than 130 studies.

The research, published in Acta Psychologica, found that gamers generally performed slightly better than non-gamers on tests of memory, attention, spatial reasoning and cognitive control. However, the improvements were modest, with memory showing the most consistent benefit.

Researchers from Shanghai Normal University had analysed data from 133 studies involving 14,245 participants of different ages and health backgrounds to better understand the relationship between gaming and brain function.

The team found that people who regularly played video games tended to perform better on a range of cognitive tests than those who did not.

In studies that tracked people before and after a gaming intervention, participants also showed small, but measurable improvements in overall cognitive performance.

Memory emerged as the strongest area of improvement across the different types of studies analysed.

The researchers suggested that video games may strengthen memory because they require players to navigate complex virtual environments, solve problems and remember locations, objectives and strategies. Many games also provide frequent rewards, which stimulate the release of dopamine, a brain chemical involved in motivation and memory formation.

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The review also found that gamers performed better on tasks involving spatial ability, such as mentally rotating objects, as well as visual attention and cognitive control, which helps people focus, ignore distractions and switch efficiently between tasks.

Surprisingly, the type of game made little difference. Whether participants played puzzle games, strategy games, action titles, or motion-controlled games, the cognitive benefits were broadly similar. Age, gender and cultural background also did not significantly influence the results.

Despite the encouraging findings, the researchers cautioned that the benefits were relatively small and that the quality of the available evidence was generally moderate. The studies varied widely in how long participants played, the games they used, and how cognitive abilities were measured, making it difficult to determine the ideal amount or type of gaming.

The researchers also noted that most studies did not follow participants long enough to determine whether the mental benefits persist over time.

While the findings do not suggest that video games are a substitute for education, exercise, or other healthy habits, they indicate that gaming may be a useful addition to activities that help keep the brain active across the lifespan.