Anxiety is a fire in the emotional system. Logic is water. When you activate your prefrontal cortex (responsible for counting, planning, solving puzzles), you automatically silence the amygdala (the fear center). The brain has difficulty being simultaneously terrified and focused on a puzzle.
The Tetris Effect
Research by Oxford University scientists has shown that playing Tetris within a few hours of a traumatic event (e.g., a car accident) significantly reduces the number of intrusive memories (flashbacks) in the future. The game engages the same brain areas responsible for creating mental images, "disrupting" the recording of trauma.
Scientific Sources:
- Iyadurai, L., et al. (2009). "Preventing intrusive memories after trauma via a brief cognitive intervention using Tetris".
