The curious relationship between Tetris and trauma
Tetris is a classic stacking puzzle video game created by Alexey Pajitnov in 1984. A staple of play culture, it has entertained people across generations, cultures, and contexts. Recent studies suggest Tetrist might be more than just a game; it could play a surprising role in trauma therapy, helping to disrupt the consolidation of distressing memories and even fostering brain plasticity. The game challenges players to manipulate falling geometric shapes composed of four square blocks to complete horizontal lines without leaving empty spaces. A player earns points by completing a full line, which makes it disappear. The goal is to score as many points as possible by clearing lines while preventing the blocks from accumulating and reaching the top of the screen.
Several studies have investigated the therapeutic applications of Tetris. A notable research in 2018 found that playing Tetris shortly after experiencing a traumatic event could reduce the occurrence of intrusive memories that contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Iyadurai et al., 2018). The study involved individuals who had recently been in motor vehicle accidents, dividing them into two groups: one played Tetris after recalling their traumatic memories, while the control group did not. The Tetris group reported nearly three times fewer intrusive memories than the control group, suggesting that the game interfered with memory consolidation.
Concept | Intervention Group (Tetris) | Control Group |
|---|---|---|
Participant count | (n=34) | (n=33) |
Mean (M): The average number of intrusive memories reported. | 8.73 | 23.26 |
Range: The lowest and highest number of intrusive memories reported. | 0 and 55 | 0 and 120 |
Patients engaged in a brief trauma memory reminder task, recording memories daily in a diary for one week. Half the participants were instructed to play Tetris right after the memory task. The results demonstrate significant differences; the Tetris Group had an average of 8.73 intrusive memories, whereas the Control group had 23.26—almost three times more. For part b, each circle represents participants who reported a certain number of intrusive memories on a particular day; the larger circles mean more people reported that number. The solid lines represent trends over time (how intrusive memories changed across the seven days).
When a person experiences a traumatic event, their brain consolidates the memory in stages, transferring it from short-term to long-term storage. This process, known as memory consolidation, can lead to persistent intrusive thoughts. Tetris interrupts the consolidation of intrusive memories by engaging the brain in a visual task, preventing traumatic memories from taking control. Playing Tetris after a traumatic event stops a person from encoding and consolidating that memory and reduces the likelihood of distressing memories solidifying into long-term intrusive thoughts.
Beyond its short-term benefits, Tetris may also contribute to long-term brain changes. A 2020 study by Butler et al. investigates the behavioural and neurological changes, focusing on hippocampal volume—a brain region crucial for memory and emotional regulation. The study combined Tetris with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for combat-related PTSD. While both groups showed reduced PTSD symptoms, only the Tetris group demonstrated significant hippocampal growth. Paying Tetris disrupts trauma memory consolidation and may enhance neuroplasticity, strengthening the brain's ability to regulate emotions and process memories more effectively.
Tetris can act as both a cognitive interference task (disrupting trauma memory reconsolidation) or a brain-training tool (enhancing neuroplasticity), ensuring long-term maintenance of symptom reductions. Butler concluded that hippocampal neurogenesis (new brain cell growth) can lead to "subsequent reductions in PTSD symptoms by weakening memories of the traumatic event and strengthening memories formed during therapy" (Butler et al., 2020).
The study measured symptoms of PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression in three moments:
Before therapy (Pre)
Immediately after therapy (Post)
Six months later (Follow-up)
PTSD (PDS scores), Depression (BDI scores), and Anxiety (STAI scores) all decreased immediately after therapy, and the EMDR therapy worked for both groups. At 6-month follow-up, both groups maintained reduced PTSD symptoms, but only the Tetris group maintained reduced anxiety symptoms. The more significant hippocampal growth correlated with more considerable symptom reductions at follow-up. Patients who had more hippocampal growth showed more significant PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptom reductions over time, suggesting that therapy alone did not trigger the same brain changes as Tetris did (Buttler et al., 2020).
Tetris is more than just a game—it holds therapeutic potential. Recent studies suggest that playing Tetris can disrupt traumatic memory consolidation, reduce intrusive thoughts, and even promote brain plasticity, offering a low-cost, widely accessible complement to traditional PTSD treatments. As research continues to explore the intersection of gaming and mental health, Tetris stands as a compelling example of how play can have profound psychological benefits
References
Iyadurai, L., Blackwell, S. E., Meiser-Stedman, R., Watson, P. C., Bonsall, M. B., Geddes, J. R., Nobre, A. C., & Holmes, E. A. (2018). Preventing intrusive memories after trauma via a brief intervention involving Tetris computer game play in the emergency department: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial. Molecular psychiatry, 23(3), 674–682. https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2017.23
Butler, O., Herr, K., Willmund, G., Gallinat, J., Kühn, S., & Zimmermann, P. (2020). Trauma, treatment and Tetris: video gaming increases hippocampal volume in male patients with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN, 45(4), 279–287. https://doi.org/10.1503/jpn.190027
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