Oxford Study Utilizes Tetris to Reduce Trauma

Tetris is one of those rare games that even your grandparents have played. Alexey Pajitnov’s quintessential puzzler has kept folks glued to their controllers for over twenty years. However, for some patients diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), there may be more at stake than high scores and cleared lines.

In a recent study conducted by researchers at Oxford University, 40 volunteers were shown images of severe injuries that could potentially conjure flashbacks for sufferers of PTSD. Afterwards, half of the subjects were allowed to play Tetris, while the other half were given nothing. In the following weeks, those that had played the game reported considerably fewer flashbacks than the control group

Even after 24 years, Tetris is still making headlines.

Apparently, this phenomenon stems from the game competing with the traumatic images for the brain’s attention. Dr. Emily Holmes told the BBC, “We suggest it specifically interferes with the way sensory memories are laid down in the period after trauma and thus reduces the number of flashbacks that are experienced afterwards.” However, she was quick to point out that despite this apparent correlation, the Oxford team is not suggesting that PTSD patients rely on Tetris as a treatment.

Critics, including the Aberdeen Centre for Trauma Research, argue that it’s “ethically impossible” to recreate the same conditions that originally caused the disorder. This tempered reaction seems wise. Though I’m sure that many readers (myself included) would like to mark these potentially important conclusions as another feather in the gaming cap, it’s important to remember that Tetris was one of many problem-solving applications that could have been used in the experiment. Still, it’s always nice to see some good mainstream PR for our favorite hobby.