Tetris n Trauma

Can Playing Tetris Help with Trauma? 

Believe it or not, the classic game of Tetris may do more than just pass the time—it could actually help reduce the impact of traumatic memories. Research suggests that playing Tetris shortly after a distressing event might lower the chances of developing PTSD symptoms.

Here’s why: Trauma often creates strong visual memories that can be difficult to process. Tetris engages the brain’s visual-spatial system, essentially “competing” with those distressing images and disrupting the way traumatic memories are stored. In one study, participants who played Tetris within six hours of a traumatic event experienced fewer PTSD symptoms later on.

While this research is still new, it’s an exciting glimpse into how simple activities might support healing. Of course, Tetris isn’t a replacement for therapy or professional support, but it may be a helpful tool alongside counseling and other treatments.

Who said gaming can't be in your therapeutic toolkit?

More information on the research:

The research on Tetris and trauma was conducted by Dr. Emily Holmes and her colleagues at the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at the University of Cambridge in the UK.

In a series of studies published in 2009 and 2010, Dr. Holmes and her team investigated the use of Tetris as a way to prevent intrusive memories following trauma. They found that playing Tetris after a traumatic event reduced the frequency and vividness of intrusive memories in healthy volunteers, and in emergency department patients who had experienced a traumatic event.

These findings suggest that playing Tetris may be a simple and effective way to prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related mental health conditions.