Effects of a video game intervention on symptoms, training motivation, and visuo-spatial memory in depression
By Moritz Bergmann, Ines Wollbrandt, Lisa Gittel, Eva Halbe, Sarah Mackert, Alexandra Philipsen, Silke Lux Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany, 2023
doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1173652
Methods: a total of 46 clinically depressed individuals were treatment including psychotherapy and/or randomly assigned to one of three groups: an experimental "3D video gaming" group (n = 14) which played Super Mario Odyssey, an active control group (n = 16) which trained with a computer program "CogPack," and a treatment-as-usual (TAU) group (n = 16) which received a standard clinical pharmacotherapy.
Results: regarding depressive symptoms, a significant decrease in the proportion of participants who showed clinical levels of depressive symptoms as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory was only found in the 3D video gaming group (which played Super Mario Odyssey).
Conclusion: besides a standalone cognitive training, the current findings suggest that cognitive trainings using a video game have potential to increase subjective well-being, show higher levels of training motivation, and lead to improvements in visuo-spatial memory functions in MDD.
The proportion of participants that showed depressive symptoms (BDI-II β₯ 13) at pre- (T1) and post-assessment (T2). For Super Mario Odyssey, 100 at T1 and 57 at T2.
Note: information heavily abridged. For the full paper, see link above.
A 2023 German psychiatric study found that playing Super Mario Odyssey significantly improved depressive symptoms in clinically depressed individuals compared to regular psychotherapeutic treatment, reducing depression by 43%.
21.02.2026 18:24 β
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nobody posted the clip anywhere so i went and dug the whole episode up
13.02.2026 05:22 β
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Every social theory undergirding Trumpism has been broken on the steel of Minnesotan resolve. The multiracial community in Minneapolis was supposed to shatter. It did not. It held until Bovino was forced out of the Twin Cities with his long coat between his legs.
The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that theyβre the ones who are alone. In Minnesota, all of the ideological cornerstones of MAGA have been proved false at once. Minnesotans, not the armed thugs of ICE and the Border Patrol, are brave. Minnesotans have shown that their community is socially cohesiveβbecause of its diversity and not in spite of it. Minnesotans have found and loved one another in a world atomized by social media, where empty men have tried to fill their lonely soul with lies about their own inherent superiority. Minnesotans have preserved everything worthwhile about βWestern civilization,β while armed brutes try to tear it down by force.
Last week in Minnesota, I watched ordinary people risk their lives to protect their neighbors. In the process, they not only won a significantβthough not finalβvictory against authoritarianism, they proved virtually every MAGA social theory wrong. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
27.01.2026 13:06 β
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In solidarity with today's ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA blackout, MinnMax is donating $1 to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota for every share of this Bluesky post for the next hour.
23.01.2026 16:01 β
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This is true and I was the only one on set excited about it (and playing the song on my phone to blank stares)
30.12.2025 04:21 β
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An meme generator produced image based on a New York Times article featuring some chucklefuck but now replaced with the great Bolo Yeung
The New Work Times
OPINION
BINYAMIN APPELBAUM
Mamdani Isn't the Future of the Democrats. This Guy Is.
Nov. 9, 2025
Holy shit finally an Op-Ed that Gets It
11.11.2025 22:07 β
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04.11.2025 11:33 β
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I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and itβs possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread π§΅)
24.09.2025 20:30 β
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Move over, Hemingway
24.07.2025 11:14 β
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19.06.2025 18:46 β
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Having kids is sorta like being a forum moderator in that people are always trying to skirt around the edges of the rules and then rub it in or act outraged when they think theyβve found some kind of loophole.
01.06.2025 18:27 β
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My YouTube algorithm is like 90% clips from the TV show βHouseβ because acerbic intelligent problem solving is very soothing right now.
22.05.2025 21:29 β
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Pope Leo XIV on the streets of Peru before being elected Pope; a kid in the background wears a shirt that has βDragonball Zβ written on the back of it
Leo XIV was a bishop in Peru for 20 years so it is more probable than not that he is the first Pope to know who Goku is.
08.05.2025 22:51 β
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For HK films fans: Shout Studios has nabbed Golden Princess library (John Woo, Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark, Johnnie To...).
A major copyright limbo escape for 156 films that disappeared from Western markets for decades.
Soon in 4K (remastered).
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOcR...
28.04.2025 14:19 β
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tried to make a era-appropriate trailer for my THPS inspired fish game
24.04.2025 16:41 β
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If I had a nickel for every time I've seen Fred Durst in an A24 movie, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it's happened twice.
21.04.2025 18:16 β
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i keep thinking about this
10.04.2025 14:23 β
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Notify NHA about grant terminations!
We are collecting information about current grants that have been canceled since March 31st, 2025.
If you are looking to share a story about the impact of NEH funding on your work please use this for...
The National Humanities Alliance is collecting information on canceled NEH grants to share with congressional leaders. This is legit fact finding in support of competent lobbying. If you've had your grant canceled, do let them know.
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04.04.2025 12:45 β
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Cinematrix No. 371: April 1, 2025
Can you name an M. Night Shyamalan movie starring M. Night Shyamalan?
Ok, today's Cinematrix is peak cinema and justifies April 1st for me.
01.04.2025 15:12 β
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The funny answer to what Summers brother would buy one is Havok and the real answer is Vulcan because narcissists are weirdly drawn to other narcissists.
31.03.2025 19:37 β
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Watching my kid try out old NES games and that shit was hard as fuck back then. Control systems were not standardized, no tutorials, limited life systems.
29.03.2025 16:04 β
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cop in The Wicker Man (leaving unharmed because he slept with that hot blonde): what a strange, sexy island
15.03.2025 00:11 β
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You know what, thanks! Keep me in the loop!
19.03.2025 13:54 β
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One day Iβll play a tabletop RPG again. One day β¦
19.03.2025 10:50 β
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The same as the above picture but I added some movie poster bells and whistles. It's now "ERNEST GOES TO HELL" and it's got a quote from Roger Ebert who calls it "RELENTLESS!"
13.03.2025 20:09 β
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Just beat Gold stake on Black deck in Balatro and I never have to play that piece of shit deck ever again #balatro
11.03.2025 18:01 β
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TIGER ON THE BEAT (Lau, 1988)
04.03.2025 20:53 β
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