PubHawk
PLoS One February 2009 PMID 19127289

Can playing the computer game "Tetris" reduce the build-up of flashbacks for trauma? A proposal from cognitive science.

Emily A Holmes, Ella L James, Thomas Coode-Bate, Catherine Deeprose

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Mentions

138
Peak: 12 in Jun 2023
across 7 sources since Apr 2015

Extended reach

357,227
potential audience

Total likes

2,313

Video views

174,020

Mentions per month

Apr 2015 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter48 posts
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  • Reddit14 posts
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  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions emphasize that playing Tetris shortly after trauma may reduce flashbacks, with posts like 'significantly fewer flashbacks' showing support, and references to Holmes’ research highlighting its potential as a first response. The tone shifts from curiosity to scientific skepticism, reflecting varied perceptions of the study’s practical impact.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions agree that the study presents promising evidence that Tetris can help reduce trauma-related flashbacks.

InterestHigh interest

The topic generates high interest, with many posts commenting on its potential relevance and scientific basis.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments show moderate engagement, with references to related research, practical implications, and calls for further exploration.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest the study could influence trauma treatment strategies, but some skepticism remains about its current applicability.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Kohei_Oka
@aloha_koh · X

このHolmsの2009年の論文、テトリスでPTSDの侵入思考が減るというやつで、よく引用されるんだけど　https://t.co/BszqbXYEHg 今日聞いた追試の話だと全く再現されないらしい。オリジナルの条件が交絡してるって指摘されててボコボコだった。

Aug 10, 2023 · 25 likes · 11 shares · 9,305 followers View post →
Carrie Madej
@carrie_madej · X

Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science - PMC I wonder what kind of optigenics and other frequencies are being used in this game

Jun 21, 2023 · 17 likes · 10 shares · 94,746 followers View post →
VACILANDO
@VACILANDO__ · X

@bacchikoipsy 甘いものと心理学

Sep 24, 2025 · 14 likes · 2 shares · 243 followers View post →
Ptačí Muž - upřímný na mainu
@KapesniP · X

@stochlfilip @EliB_rarian Za sebe mužů poslat tyto odkazy: https://t.co/gNS4jjXsys https://t.co/S9XzNpGEw4 https://t.co/WfwEAqHirm

May 7, 2022 · 3 likes · 1,182 followers View post →
TrueZorman
@TrueZorman · X

Fuente: https://t.co/DZYC77Hab9

Apr 8, 2024 · 3 likes · 174 followers View post →
IbexMind
@IbexMind · X

This fascinating study shows that playing Tetris 30 mins after watching a traumatic film results in "significantly fewer" flashbacks and other trauma symptoms. Have you found this useful? https://t.co/25ZFLOYhVU

Jun 18, 2020 · 3 likes · 3 shares · 92 followers View post →

All mentions

Effects of Tetris on Cognitive Functioning

Explore how playing Tetris can enhance cognitive functioning and potentially reduce trauma-related flashbacks. This video discusses the research behind Tetris and its impact on brain activity. Join Vanessa Hill as she…

BrainCraft · Apr 28, 2015 172,380 views

Impact of Video Games on Mental Health

This video explores how video games, particularly titles like Tetris, may influence mental health and trauma response. It delves into scientific research and provides insights on the potential effects of gaming on…

JT MH · Jul 2, 2021 72 views
ティータイムの探求心／podcast
@teatime_tankyu · X

論文はこちら https://t.co/dsxuaU8z2T

Sep 25, 2025 · 1 like · 58 followers View post →
ゆうえいご/デフエイゴ
@defaultenglish · X

RT @VACILANDO__: @bacchikoipsy 甘いものと心理学

Sep 24, 2025 · 2 shares · 286 followers View post →
いしはる
@ishihalu1486 · X

RT @VACILANDO__: @bacchikoipsy 甘いものと心理学

Sep 24, 2025 · 2 shares · 40 followers View post →
VACILANDO
@VACILANDO__ · X

@bacchikoipsy 甘いものと心理学

Sep 24, 2025 · 14 likes · 2 shares · 243 followers View post →
Dr Matt Morgan
@dr_mattmorgan · X

@carolynmlloyd1 Yes - we did talk about references but various challenges with doing this from the publishing side. What I should do is have them all listed on a webpage for people to access. Thanks, will try to do this. Here is the Tetris one https://t.co/mqXtDDTIhX

Mar 20, 2025 · 12,903 followers View post →
IVY
@ivymusichome · X

https://t.co/fiVIwWZeSV

Aug 10, 2024 · 1,018 followers View post →
millefe
@mofa_zzZ · X

このあたりの論文かな https://t.co/lOdkidM55L https://t.co/Oa2ULBsnJK

Jul 31, 2024 · 392 followers View post →
TrueZorman
@TrueZorman · X

Fuente: https://t.co/DZYC77Hab9

Apr 8, 2024 · 3 likes · 174 followers View post →
TrueZorman
@TrueZorman · X

@BigMonkeyGuy3 @kennyrash01 Según que es verdad, este estudio: https://t.co/DZYC77Hab9 dice que ayuda a prevenir flashbacks dado que los juegos visuales ocupan el mismo espacio de memoria que los eventos traumaticos. No lo previene por completo pero si lo reduce.

Apr 8, 2024 · 174 followers View post →
しっとりペンチ
@sittoripenchi · X

3月5日しとペンラジオ第547回です テトリスをすることによってトラウマの起こるリソースをゲームに割くことができ、結果トラウマを軽減することが提唱されてるんですね。 欲求を抑える的なのも日本語では見ましたが探し方が悪いのか原著がみあたりませんでした。 https://t.co/lTI4avc3sO

Mar 4, 2024 · 1 like · 136 followers View post →
Abstract Fairy
@AbstractFairy · X

not happy with the study design but apparently playing tetris after seeing something traumatic can prevent you from forming flashbacks https://t.co/NDci4wbDt7

Jan 15, 2024 · 3,415 followers View post →
Ellie
@richoblation · X

@BipolarRecorder https://t.co/dAqPMXqPKi

Jan 9, 2024 · 2 likes · 1,934 followers View post →
ダッヂ丼平
@D_Yosoji_man · X

RT @aloha_koh: このHolmsの2009年の論文、テトリスでPTSDの侵入思考が減るというやつで、よく引用されるんだけど　https://t.co/BszqbXYEHg 今日聞いた追試の話だと全く再現されないらしい。オリジナルの条件が交絡してるって指摘されててボコ…

Aug 11, 2023 · 11 shares · 626 followers View post →
藤木犬介
@FUJIKIDaisuke · X

RT @aloha_koh: このHolmsの2009年の論文、テトリスでPTSDの侵入思考が減るというやつで、よく引用されるんだけど　https://t.co/BszqbXYEHg 今日聞いた追試の話だと全く再現されないらしい。オリジナルの条件が交絡してるって指摘されててボコ…

Aug 11, 2023 · 11 shares · 920 followers View post →
たんざないと
@tanzatanza123 · X

RT @aloha_koh: このHolmsの2009年の論文、テトリスでPTSDの侵入思考が減るというやつで、よく引用されるんだけど　https://t.co/BszqbXYEHg 今日聞いた追試の話だと全く再現されないらしい。オリジナルの条件が交絡してるって指摘されててボコ…

Aug 11, 2023 · 11 shares · 182 followers View post →
こころっしゅ
@cocorosh · X

RT @aloha_koh: このHolmsの2009年の論文、テトリスでPTSDの侵入思考が減るというやつで、よく引用されるんだけど　https://t.co/BszqbXYEHg 今日聞いた追試の話だと全く再現されないらしい。オリジナルの条件が交絡してるって指摘されててボコ…

Aug 10, 2023 · 11 shares · 1,488 followers View post →
uncorrelated
@uncorrelated · X

RT @aloha_koh: このHolmsの2009年の論文、テトリスでPTSDの侵入思考が減るというやつで、よく引用されるんだけど　https://t.co/BszqbXYEHg 今日聞いた追試の話だと全く再現されないらしい。オリジナルの条件が交絡してるって指摘されててボコ…

Aug 10, 2023 · 11 shares · 5,421 followers View post →
海老
@evil_empire1982 · X

RT @aloha_koh: このHolmsの2009年の論文、テトリスでPTSDの侵入思考が減るというやつで、よく引用されるんだけど　https://t.co/BszqbXYEHg 今日聞いた追試の話だと全く再現されないらしい。オリジナルの条件が交絡してるって指摘されててボコ…

Aug 10, 2023 · 11 shares · 1,251 followers View post →
もむ
@momentumyy · X

RT @aloha_koh: このHolmsの2009年の論文、テトリスでPTSDの侵入思考が減るというやつで、よく引用されるんだけど　https://t.co/BszqbXYEHg 今日聞いた追試の話だと全く再現されないらしい。オリジナルの条件が交絡してるって指摘されててボコ…

Aug 10, 2023 · 11 shares · 2,732 followers View post →
Kohei_Oka
@aloha_koh · X

このHolmsの2009年の論文、テトリスでPTSDの侵入思考が減るというやつで、よく引用されるんだけど　https://t.co/BszqbXYEHg 今日聞いた追試の話だと全く再現されないらしい。オリジナルの条件が交絡してるって指摘されててボコボコだった。

Aug 10, 2023 · 25 likes · 11 shares · 9,305 followers View post →
Jordan Carlson
@jordantcarlson.bsky.social · Bluesky

Should be open access: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0004153

Jul 27, 2023 · 3 likes · 1 share View post →
JesusisKing!
@JesseniaPadil17 · X

RT @carrie_madej: Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science -…

Jun 22, 2023 · 10 shares · 8 followers View post →
Tim L
@tjlitke · X

RT @carrie_madej: Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science -…

Jun 22, 2023 · 10 shares · 390 followers View post →
mrjamieme
@mrjamieme · X

RT @carrie_madej: Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science -…

Jun 21, 2023 · 10 shares · 722 followers View post →
Ken
@official_ken · X

RT @carrie_madej: Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science -…

Jun 21, 2023 · 10 shares · 643 followers View post →
Bill Hall
@BillHall111 · X

RT @carrie_madej: Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science -…

Jun 21, 2023 · 10 shares · 3,328 followers View post →
HuginnNMuninn77
@HuginnNMuninn77 · X

RT @carrie_madej: Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science -…

Jun 21, 2023 · 10 shares · 2,846 followers View post →
Hammond D'egz
@Nano_dot_org · X

RT @carrie_madej: Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science -…

Jun 21, 2023 · 10 shares · 6,451 followers View post →
Abdallah
@ABNT84 · X

RT @carrie_madej: Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science -…

Jun 21, 2023 · 10 shares · 1,248 followers View post →
Mario Borg
@mario_il_beauty · X

RT @carrie_madej: Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science -…

Jun 21, 2023 · 10 shares · 34 followers View post →
Czee Czee
@zeee369 · X

RT @carrie_madej: Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science -…

Jun 21, 2023 · 10 shares · 79 followers View post →
Carrie Madej
@carrie_madej · X

Can Playing the Computer Game “Tetris” Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for Trauma? A Proposal from Cognitive Science - PMC I wonder what kind of optigenics and other frequencies are being used in this game

Jun 21, 2023 · 17 likes · 10 shares · 94,746 followers View post →
Millie
@_nooph · X

@Lvnderrs unironically: play tetris https://t.co/daDG3cF73q

Jun 8, 2023 · 1 like · 97 followers View post →
小垣 佑一郎
@dokukeshisyoku · X

詳しくは調べていないので話半分に聞いてほしいのですが、トラウマのフラッシュバック後の30分以内に「テトリス」をやると軽減されるという論文がありました。 ゲームの依存性ってスゴイんですね。 https://t.co/xDnkHuTi8p

Nov 27, 2022 · 1 like · 12 followers View post →
Bicycle Repairman (@bicyclerepairman.bsky.social)
@ThreeSpeeds · X

@aschwortz Tetris vs PTSD https://t.co/BCLvbhlbQu

Sep 19, 2022 · 1 like · 105 followers View post →
Chromadeline
@Chromadeline · X

RT @NotImportantUs1: @SpotifyWeird Sources: https://t.co/MbedwJR3cc https://t.co/qllOu5gnJu https://t.co/CqfUjdnvpR

Jul 10, 2022 · 1 share · 3,606 followers View post →
Prof. Ian Turner
@DocWithTheSocs · X

Secondly 'Can playing the computer game "@Tetris" reduce the build-up of flashbacks for trauma? A proposal from cognitive science' https://t.co/0K1VTXWgU1

Jun 29, 2022 · 2,059 followers View post →
Ptačí Muž - upřímný na mainu
@KapesniP · X

@stochlfilip @EliB_rarian Za sebe mužů poslat tyto odkazy: https://t.co/gNS4jjXsys https://t.co/S9XzNpGEw4 https://t.co/WfwEAqHirm

May 7, 2022 · 3 likes · 1,182 followers View post →
Maria
@blueskycacti · X

@mmatmatmat https://t.co/HRkNXLYrp4 Even if you don’t fully identify with the subjects, it’s a grounding mechanism that can definitely affect the way your brain interacts with trauma :o

Feb 18, 2022 · 1 like · 194 followers View post →
CrankyOtter
@CrankyOtter · X

@cactus_lashes_ 2) This article looks at early video game use to overstuff your brain before the trauma sets in, diluting it, in effect. https://t.co/2KnBaZTnVY

Jan 21, 2022 · 1 like · 1,040 followers View post →
Payton Jones
@paytonjjones · X

@MorbidPsych @aaronjfisher Yes, that would be expected! I don't know the current state of the literature, but a related idea is to give amnestic drugs to people following e.g. extremely serious car accidents to partially block visual memory formation. There's also this: https://t.co/BOebQ8WVfu

Nov 11, 2020 · 1 like · 2,631 followers View post →
Dr Ruth Ann Harpur
@drruthannharpur · X

@howlett_leanne @DrAntjeHorsch @snsf_ch @CA18211 For those interested this is the psychological theory behind the hypothesis https://t.co/H3BamDNume And an opportunity for me to say that this is how science works. Theory is developed on the basis of a science based understanding of a phenomenon...

Oct 3, 2020 · 1 like · 8,008 followers View post →
Angela King
@RevdAngela · X

RT @IbexMind: This fascinating study shows that playing Tetris 30 mins after watching a traumatic film results in "significantly fewer" fla…

Jun 18, 2020 · 3 shares · 70 followers View post →
Terry Pattar
@terrypattar · X

RT @IbexMind: This fascinating study shows that playing Tetris 30 mins after watching a traumatic film results in "significantly fewer" fla…

Jun 18, 2020 · 3 shares · 923 followers View post →
Till Baaken
@tillbaaken · X

RT @IbexMind: This fascinating study shows that playing Tetris 30 mins after watching a traumatic film results in "significantly fewer" fla…

Jun 18, 2020 · 3 shares · 1,775 followers View post →
IbexMind
@IbexMind · X

This fascinating study shows that playing Tetris 30 mins after watching a traumatic film results in "significantly fewer" flashbacks and other trauma symptoms. Have you found this useful? https://t.co/25ZFLOYhVU

Jun 18, 2020 · 3 likes · 3 shares · 92 followers View post →
nico (perpetually lifeless)
@unicornthorn · X

@UntoNuggan Here's the full journal article if anyone else wants it, it's published in an open access journal! https://t.co/rCzNpi1Xlb

Oct 29, 2019 · 4,420 followers View post →
Alice Cann
@alicecann · X

@cowtung This makes me think about Emily Holmes’ (and colleagues’) research indicating that Tetris can be a good first response treatment for PTSD, to avoid distressing mental imagery before people are ready to process it https://t.co/kNcP3nSb7m

Oct 28, 2019 · 2 likes · 1,085 followers View post →
Scarlet
@ScarlettaPsycho · X

@BrunoROCHERR https://t.co/bidhro8Fiy (entre autre, il y en a eu d'autres plus récemment)

Jan 6, 2019 · 2,281 followers View post →