Study: Playing Tetris Helps Prevent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Flashbacks

Oxford University scientists find Tetris acts as a "cognitive vaccine".

Tetris is a videogame classic, iconic for its colored, form-fitting blocks and hypnotic puzzle play. And according to a new independent study out of Oxford University, it's something else entirely: a potential treatment used to help prevent post-traumatic stress disorder flashbacks.

The so-called "Tetris Effect" has been talked about for years -- the feeling of relaxation and accomplishment players often experience after playing a few rounds of the 26-year-old Russian videogame. According to research conducted by the Department of Psychiatry at Oxford University, the effects of the game are real and could change the way trauma victims are treated.

In detailing the discovery, lead researcher Emily Holmes wrote: "Tetris may offer a 'cognitive vaccine' against flashback development after trauma exposure."

For its study, the Oxford team showed traumatic film footage of death and injury to healthy volunteers. Participants were then broken up into three groups: one that was tasked with playing Tetris, one a Pub Quiz game, and the third no games.

Those who played Tetris 30 minutes after seeing the traumatic footage experienced a significant reduction in flashbacks compared to the no-games group, and the Pub Quiz group actually experienced a significant increase in flashbacks. The researchers further discovered playing Tetris up to four hours after viewing the traumatic footage resulted in a significant reduction in flashbacks.

"We find it fascinating that specifically playing Tetris versus another computer game yielded significantly better results," said Henk Rogers, CEO of Blue Planet Software, the company that manages the Tetris licensing rights. "To think that playing Tetris may be a safe alternative to drug treatment in preventing PTSD is wonderful news."

More research is required, but the Oxford team hopes its work will lead to a drug-free alternative to help treat trauma victims.

"The reason why Tetris is so special is because it engages all your mental faculties," Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov said after hearing about the study's results. "When you're playing Tetris you are concentrating, strategically thinking, and using spatial reasoning and eye-hand coordination. The effect is mystical -- you notice the change after you play."

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