A new study found that those who play "Tetris" on their gadgets tend to have their cravings reduced.
Researchers from Plymouth University in England and Queensland University of Technology in Australia studied how the classic game of bricks "Tetris" has an impact on people's cravings for food, sleep, drugs, and even sex.
The study appeared in the journal Addictive Behaviors, in which it stated that playing the game for a whole three minutes can reduce cravings by one fifth.
Previous studies have already established the effectiveness of playing "Tetris" as a way to reduce cravings. Other studies were also more focused on finding out the game's effects on food cravings.
However, in this new study the researchers discovered that the same game can also curb cravings for alcohol, sex, smoking, and sleeping.
For the study, researchers enlisted 31 undergraduate students between 18 and 27 years old to play "Tetris" for a week on the iPods supplied to them.
The researchers also texted the participants seven times each day to monitor the report on their cravings. They also encouraged the participants to give a self-report all throughout the day.
Half of the participants were told to play the game for three minutes when cravings start, and then provide feedback to researchers, while the other half served as the control group.
About 30 percent of the time, the participants reported their cravings for food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Twenty-one percent reported cravings for coffee, wine, cigarettes, and beer. The rest of the cravings reported comprised of other activities that include sleeping, socializing, sex, and playing video games, as reported by United Press International.
The participants who played "Tetris" reported that playing the game reduced the intensity of their cravings to 56 percent from a previous 70 percent.
"Tetris" showed consistency in helping cut down the cravings. Its lasting effects suggest that it can be used in the effective management of cravings and addiction, according to researchers.
