The experiment, conducted by Oxford University, exposed a group of 40 volunteers to "distressing" images of injuries. A portion of the group was then made to play Tetris for 30 minutes.

Over the course of a week, the Tetris-playing sample was found to have recorded "significantly fewer" flashbacks of the images than the control group, according to the BBC.

"Tetris may work by competing for the brain's resources for sensory information," said Oxford's Dr. Emily Holmes.

"We suggest it specifically interferes with the way sensory memories are laid down in the period after trauma and thus reduces the number of flashbacks that are experienced afterwards."

Researchers admit that the distressing images shown to the group do not compare to actual real-life traumatic events, and that the results of the study are inconclusive as to whether games have a real effect on human memory.