Tetris Video Game Found to Reduce Trauma Flashbacks in Groundbreaking Study
Playing the classic video game Tetris could help tackle memories of past trauma, according to new research that experts are calling a real breakthrough with potentially enormous impact. The study, conducted by researchers in the UK and Sweden, involved close to 100 NHS staff who had been exposed to trauma at work, such as witnessing deaths during the pandemic.
How the Treatment Works
The treatment, known as imagery competing task intervention (ICTI), involved approximately 40 patients playing a slow version of Tetris while briefly recalling a traumatic memory. Participants were then asked to use their mind's eye to imagine the game's grid and visualise the blocks. ICTI is thought to weaken the vividness of traumatic memories by occupying the brain's visuospatial areas, which are responsible for analysing and understanding physical space.
Professor Emily Holmes, a psychology expert at Uppsala University who led the study, explained: "Even a single, fleeting intrusive memory of past trauma can exert a powerful impact in daily life by hijacking attention and leaving people at the mercy of unwanted and intrusive emotions. By weakening the intrusive aspect of these sensory memories via this brief visual intervention, people experience fewer trauma images flashing back."
Significant Results and Comparisons
The remaining patients in the study either received standard treatment or listened to music by Mozart along with podcasts about the Austrian composer. The findings showed that within four weeks, those who received the ICTI treatment had 10 times fewer flashbacks compared to other groups. After six months, 70% reported having no intrusive memories at all. Additionally, the treatment helped tackle symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Professor Holmes described the study as "a real breakthrough", noting that while the treatment is more than just playing Tetris, it is designed to be as gentle, brief, and practical as possible to fit into people's busy lives.
Expert Reactions and Broader Implications
Tayla McCloud, research lead for digital mental health at Wellcome, which funded the study, claimed the impact of the trial could be enormous. She said: "It's rare to see something so accessible, scalable and adaptable across contexts. It doesn't require patients to put their trauma into words and even transcends language barriers."
The psychological impact of Tetris, created in 1984 by Alexey Pajitnov, has previously led to the coining of the Tetris Effect, where some players report seeing falling blocks in their dreams or visualising objects moving together after extended gameplay. This new research builds on that phenomenon, offering a promising tool for mental health interventions.
