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Many experts urge individuals to avoid any screen activity, regardless of being computer, video games or television, before bed.
Previous studies had similarly reported that playing video games at night has negative effects on sleep as the stimulation keeps one awake even after the game has ceased.
According to the study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, it took teenagers who played violent video games before bedtime only marginally longer time to fall asleep compared to those who watched a relaxing nature documentary.
The video gamers, however, displayed a slight increase in cognitive alertness, the study found.
"We found that teens in our study were less sleepy after playing the video game compared to watching the documentary DVD, which suggests if they were left to their own devices, the teens would have chosen to continue playing the video game, which would have eaten into the beginning of their sleep opportunity," said lead researcher Michael Gradisar.
"So I guess the moral of this study, particularly for parents, is moderate your teens' video game playing," Gradisar said.
ill admit im a video gamer, and when i play, i dont get tired. i could literally sit there for 12 hours and play.
now, when ive been playing for a couple hours and try to go to bed at my normal time, i have a hell of a time trying to fall asleep AND stay asleep, even when i give myself a rest for an hour or more. the dreams are very vivid as well.
maybe its because i play games that are intense like modern warfare 2, grand theft auto and soul caliber? couldnt say, but video games do affect my sleep pattern