The curious relationship between Tetris and the human mind.

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 Tetris 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 changing the brain plasticity. The game challenges players to manipulate falling geometric shapes composed of four square blocks to complete horizontal lines without leaving empty spaces. Tetris is about finding patterns, speed, and repetition. A player earns points by completing a full line, which then disappears. 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.

Tetris effect

The Tetris effect is a cognitive phenomenon in which repeated engagement with a task, such as playing Tetris, begins to shape perception, thoughts, and even dreams outside the game. This phenomenon was first discussed in the 1990s when players and researchers noticed how strongly the game imprinted spatial patterns onto perception and memory. Studies by researchers from the Harvard Medical School in Boston (Stickgold et al., 2000) showed that people who played Tetris experienced hypnagogic imagery (visuals when falling asleep). Even participants with memory impairments could “see” Tetris patterns, suggesting deep procedural learning.

Tetris and trauma

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 as few intrusive memories as the control group, suggesting that the game interfered with memory consolidation.

Patients engaged in a brief trauma memory reminder task and recorded 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 as many. 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 changes in the brain. A 2020 study by Butler et al. investigates behavioural and neurological changes, with a focus on hippocampal volume, a brain region crucial for memory and emotional regulation. The study combined Tetris with Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for combat-related PTSD. While both groups showed reduced PTSD symptoms, only the Tetris group demonstrated significant hippocampal growth. Playing Tetris disrupts the consolidation of traumatic memories 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:

1. Before therapy (Pre)

2. Immediately after therapy (Post)

3. 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 the 6-month follow-up, both groups maintained reduced PTSD symptoms, but only the Tetris group maintained reduced anxiety symptoms. The greater the hippocampal growth, the greater the symptom reductions at follow-up. Patients who had more hippocampal growth showed 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.

Tiz Creel of Living Things Studio ©2023

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