Anyone who has ever played ‘Tetris’ knows how addictive the ’80s video game can be. Scientists say the Tetris Effect may even have psychological benefits for people coping with PTSD.

The effect has also been employed as a way to stop the onset of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms. Behavioral interventions such as Tetris can have preventative effects in reducing intrusive memories.

The Tetris Effect Is More Than A Gaming Quirk, It’s Changing How We See Memory The revolutionary game has effects on the brain that linger. Dr. Alfredo Carpineti ...

For those unfamiliar with Lumines, the overall gameplay feels very similar to Tetris: Blocks fall down, you rotate and place them to help clear the board, and "topping out" spells game over.