Tetris could reduce long-term stress after major trauma
Playing the video game Tetris after a major shock can reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, claim Oxford researchers.
By Daily Telegraph Reporter
Published: 2:00PM GMT 25 Mar 2010
British researchers found that playing the popular computer game shortly after the trauma helped wipe out the bad memories and reduce distressing flashbacks.
The psychologists from Oxford University believe the discovery could lead to new treatments for accident victims in hospitals as well as those involved in war zones.
The researchers, led by Dr Emily Holmes of the Department of Psychiatry at Oxford University, showed 40 healthy volunteers that included traumatic images of injury from a variety of sources, including adverts highlighting the dangers of drink driving.
After waiting for 30 minutes, 20 of the volunteers played "Tetris" for 10 minutes while the other half did nothing. Those who had played the computer game experienced significantly fewer flashbacks over the next week.
Dr Holmes and her team believe that the computer game helps block the brain from storing painful memories as long as it is played immediately after the event.