Tetris Prevents PTSD
- Jamie Sorenson
- Feb 25
- 2 min read
Tetris Prevents PTSD: I had come across this intriguing information on social media multiple times, yet I had not found the opportunity to delve deeper and confirm its validity. However, it turns out that there are indeed well-designed studies that rigorously investigate this phenomenon in which playing tetris after a traumatic event does reduce the risk and severity of PTSD. The specific study that caught my attention was referenced with the PubMed ID PMID: 32293830, which presents compelling findings in the realm of psychological treatment.
The study in question involved a control group that received Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy exclusively, while the treatment arm incorporated an innovative approach by combining EMDR with the popular video game Tetris. This unique combination was designed to assess the efficacy of EMDR in conjunction with a cognitive distraction technique. Remarkably, the results indicated that the group of participants who engaged in playing Tetris alongside their EMDR therapy exhibited significantly lower symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at the conclusion of a six-week period.
Furthermore, the study revealed an additional fascinating outcome: participants who played Tetris experienced an increase in hippocampal volume. The hippocampus is a crucial region of the brain associated with memory formation and emotional regulation. The increase in its volume implies that the memories associated with traumatic events were being processed and stored in a more neutral area of the brain, as opposed to being relegated to the amygdala, which is responsible for triggering the fight, flight, or freeze response. This shift in memory storage could have significant implications for how individuals cope with and recover from trauma, suggesting that integrating cognitive tasks can facilitate healthier memory processing.
It is important to note, however, that this particular study focused exclusively on male participants, which is a common limitation in many PTSD-related research endeavors. This focus raises critical questions about the applicability of the findings to women, who are statistically shown to be twice as likely to develop PTSD following a traumatic event compared to their male counterparts. The gender disparity in PTSD prevalence underscores the necessity for further research that includes diverse populations to better understand the nuances of trauma responses and the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions across different demographics.
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Disclaimer: Posts are for education and entertainment only. No medical advice given. This information is for general knowledge and not meant to diagnose or treat any conditions.
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