'How 'Super Mario', 'Project: EVO', 'Starcraft' can make you smarter according to experts

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Studies claim that specific types of game can help make gamers smarter.

It has been widely believed that video games can lead kids to become lazy, addicted or even worse, violent. However, some research has shown that gaming has its benefits and it can even make you smarter, depending on the genre you play.

Games like "Super Mario," "Project: EVO" and "Starcraft" have scientific backing and evidence that it can make gamers smarter, Medical Daily reports.

1.) Super Mario

Perhaps one of the most recognizable games in history, Super Mario is an adventure puzzle game from Nintendo. According to a study by Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Charité University Medicine St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus, "Super Mario 64" can reportedly help increase brain mass. The increase in gray matter has numerous benefits including improved skills in navigation, planning, and strategy. It was also found to be beneficial for the hands' fine motor skills and is believed to be helpful for patients with Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to the researchers.

"The present study can demonstrate the direct causal link between video gaming and a volumetric brain increase. This proves that specific brain regions can be trained by means of video games," said Simone Kuhn, study leader and senior scientist at Max Planck Institute for Human Development.

2.) Project: EVO

"Project: EVO" is an action video game created by Akili Interactive Labs. According to the gaming company's CEO, the game aims to help ADHD patients improve on daily life challenges such self-regulation, memory and problem solving.

The study on the game being a "prescription-strength game" for patients was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry last month. The researchers found that when ADHD children play game for half an hour day, five times a week for a month, they have more attention span than those who did not have ADHD.

 "While results are preliminary, these data provide a strong rationale for continued work to develop this novel digital intervention for ADHDm" said Dr. Scott Kollins, lead author, as reported by MSN.

3.) Starcraft

"Starcraft" is a real-time strategy game by Blizzard Entertainment. Players deal with foraging for resources to defeat enemy camps while simulatenously defending their own base.

Researchers from University College London found that real-time strategy games can increase cognitive flexibility in which the brain can switch to different situations such as managing resources and attacking the enemies.

The details of the study are published in PLOS ONE.

What are your thoughts? Can videogames really make you smart? Comment down below!