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

February 2009 PLoS One

Synopsis of Social media discussions

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.

A
Agreement
 Moderate agreement

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

I
Interest
 High level of interest

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

E
Engagement
 Moderate level of engagement

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

I
Impact
 Moderate level of impact

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

Social Mentions

YouTube

5 Videos

Bluesky

1 Posts

Facebook

4 Posts

Twitter

48 Posts

Blogs

28 Articles

News

38 Articles

Reddit

14 Posts

Metrics

Video Views

174,020

Total Likes

2,313

Extended Reach

357,227

Social Features

138

Timeline: Posts about article

Top Social Media Posts

Posts referencing the article

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Effects of Tetris Game on Trauma Flashback Reduction

Effects of Tetris Game on Trauma Flashback Reduction

This video explores the cognitive science proposal that playing Tetris may help reduce flashbacks related to trauma. Based on research insights, it highlights the mental health benefits associated with engaging in action video games like Tetris, particularly in relation to trauma recovery.

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398 views

Impact of Video Games on Mental Health

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 psychological well-being. Join us for an informative discussion.

JT MH

July 2, 2021

72 views

  • ティータイムの探求心／podcast
    @teatime_tankyu (Twitter)

    論文はこちら https://t.co/dsxuaU8z2T
    view full post

    September 25, 2025

    1

  • ゆうえいご/デフエイゴ
    @defaultenglish (Twitter)

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

    September 24, 2025

    2

  • いしはる
    @ishihalu1486 (Twitter)

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

    September 24, 2025

    2

  • VACILANDO
    @VACILANDO__ (Twitter)

    @bacchikoipsy 甘いものと心理学
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    September 24, 2025

    14

    2

  • Dr Matt Morgan
    @dr_mattmorgan (Twitter)

    @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
    view full post

    March 20, 2025

  • IVY
    @ivymusichome (Twitter)

    https://t.co/fiVIwWZeSV
    view full post

    August 10, 2024

  • millefe
    @mofa_zzZ (Twitter)

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

    July 31, 2024

  • TrueZorman
    @TrueZorman (Twitter)

    Fuente: https://t.co/DZYC77Hab9
    view full post

    April 8, 2024

    3

  • TrueZorman
    @TrueZorman (Twitter)

    @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.
    view full post

    April 8, 2024

  • しっとりペンチ
    @sittoripenchi (Twitter)

    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
    view full post

    March 4, 2024

    1

  • Abstract Fairy
    @AbstractFairy (Twitter)

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

    January 15, 2024

  • Ellie
    @richoblation (Twitter)

    @BipolarRecorder https://t.co/dAqPMXqPKi
    view full post

    January 9, 2024

    2

  • ダッヂ丼平
    @D_Yosoji_man (Twitter)

    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…
    view full post

    August 11, 2023

    11

  • 藤木犬介
    @FUJIKIDaisuke (Twitter)

    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…
    view full post

    August 11, 2023

    11

  • たんざないと
    @tanzatanza123 (Twitter)

    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…
    view full post

    August 11, 2023

    11

  • こころっしゅ
    @cocorosh (Twitter)

    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…
    view full post

    August 10, 2023

    11

  • uncorrelated
    @uncorrelated (Twitter)

    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…
    view full post

    August 10, 2023

    11

  • 海老
    @evil_empire1982 (Twitter)

    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…
    view full post

    August 10, 2023

    11

  • もむ
    @momentumyy (Twitter)

    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…
    view full post

    August 10, 2023

    11

  • Kohei_Oka
    @aloha_koh (Twitter)

    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。
    view full post

    August 10, 2023

    25

    11

  • Jordan Carlson
    @jordantcarlson.bsky.social (Bluesky)

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

    July 27, 2023

    3

    1

  • JesusisKing!
    @JesseniaPadil17 (Twitter)

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

    June 22, 2023

    10

  • Tim L
    @tjlitke (Twitter)

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

    June 22, 2023

    10

  • mrjamieme
    @mrjamieme (Twitter)

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

    June 21, 2023

    10

  • Ken
    @official_ken (Twitter)

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

    June 21, 2023

    10

  • Bill Hall
    @BillHall111 (Twitter)

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

    June 21, 2023

    10

  • HuginnNMuninn77
    @HuginnNMuninn77 (Twitter)

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

    June 21, 2023

    10

  • Hammond D'egz
    @Nano_dot_org (Twitter)

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

    June 21, 2023

    10

  • Abdallah
    @ABNT84 (Twitter)

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

    June 21, 2023

    10

  • Mario Borg
    @mario_il_beauty (Twitter)

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

    June 21, 2023

    10

  • Czee Czee
    @zeee369 (Twitter)

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

    June 21, 2023

    10

  • Carrie Madej
    @carrie_madej (Twitter)

    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
    view full post

    June 21, 2023

    17

    10

  • Millie
    @_nooph (Twitter)

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

    June 8, 2023

    1

  • 小垣 佑一郎
    @dokukeshisyoku (Twitter)

    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
    view full post

    November 27, 2022

    1

  • Bicycle Repairman (@bicyclerepairman.bsky.social)
    @ThreeSpeeds (Twitter)

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

    September 19, 2022

    1

  • Chromadeline
    @Chromadeline (Twitter)

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

    July 10, 2022

    1

  • Prof. Ian Turner
    @DocWithTheSocs (Twitter)

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

    June 29, 2022

  • Ptačí Muž - upřímný na mainu
    @KapesniP (Twitter)

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

    May 7, 2022

    3

  • Maria
    @blueskycacti (Twitter)

    @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
    view full post

    February 18, 2022

    1

  • CrankyOtter
    @CrankyOtter (Twitter)

    @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
    view full post

    January 21, 2022

    1

  • Payton Jones
    @paytonjjones (Twitter)

    @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
    view full post

    November 11, 2020

    1

  • Dr Ruth Ann Harpur
    @drruthannharpur (Twitter)

    @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...
    view full post

    October 3, 2020

    1

  • Angela King
    @RevdAngela (Twitter)

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

    June 18, 2020

    3

  • Terry Pattar
    @terrypattar (Twitter)

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

    June 18, 2020

    3

  • Till Baaken
    @tillbaaken (Twitter)

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

    June 18, 2020

    3

  • IbexMind
    @IbexMind (Twitter)

    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
    view full post

    June 18, 2020

    3

    3

  • nico (perpetually lifeless)
    @unicornthorn (Twitter)

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

    October 29, 2019

  • Alice Cann
    @alicecann (Twitter)

    @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
    view full post

    October 28, 2019

    2

  • Scarlet
    @ScarlettaPsycho (Twitter)

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

    January 6, 2019

Abstract Synopsis