Q: What common computer game has been proven to lessen the impact of traumatic events?

A: Tetris

A 2009 study showed 40 participants footage of disturbing material that included surgery, injuries and violent imagery, and split the participants into two groups, one of which sat quietly while the other played Tetris for 10 minutes. All of the participants then kept a journal for a week and were then given a questionnaire to measure the lasting impact of the footage.

The Tetris group both remembered less of the material and was less affected by it, partially, according to researchers, because flashbacks to traumatic moments rely on both spatial processing and verbal processing. Occupying the brain with visuo-spatial tasks also occupies the resources the brain normally needs to consolidate these traumatic memories.

CLICK HERE to play Tetris and feel that trauma melt away!  (I just played -- no plug-ins or anything required -- and, I admit, I feel better!)