Who thinks of these things?

Big news today from the research bureau of the “ We’ve got nothing better to be doing right now” university, apparently playing the game Tetris can help reduce the effects of traumatic stress.

Apparently volunteers were exposed to distressing images, with some of these people given Tetris to play 30 minutes later. According to the researchers players had fewer ‘flashbacks’ perhaps (in other words they don’t know) because it helped disrupt the laying down of memories.

The hope is that the study could aid the development of new strategies in minimising the impact of Trauma. However, the researchers have accepted that translating their findings into practical applications could prove difficult.

Now a couple of thoughts occur, one what findings? Yes they may have fewer flashbacks but they don’t seem to know why and secondly who the heck thought up this study? Who sat there and thought I wonder if playing Tetris can help reduce the effects of traumatic stress.

Also if people are getting flashbacks from the images what the heck did they show them? After reading this story I did get a mental image of a room full of professor Fink clones coming up with ideas.

Finally why Tetris? Did they start off with that after one of the researchers suddenly thought one day, “ Gee I wonder if playing this will help reduce the effects of traumatic stress?” Or was Tetris all they were left with after several unreported and unsuccessful studies. “ We’re tried Resident Evil, Call of Duty, Fall out 3, Doom and silent Hill. No luck and all we’ve got left is Tetris. Like that’ll work but I guess we ought to try it anyway.”

You’ve got to wonder.