Confirmed: Gaming affects your brain.

Fourteen-year-olds who were frequent video gamers had more gray matter in the rewards center of the brain than peers who didn't play video games as much -- suggesting that gaming may be correlated to changes in the brain much as addictions are.

European scientists reported the discovery Tuesday in the journal Translational Psychiatry. Psychologist Simone Kuhn of Ghent University in Belgium and colleagues recruited 154 healthy 14-year-olds in Berlin and divided them into two groups. Twenty-four girls and 52 boys were frequent gamers who played at least nine hours of video games each week. Fifty-eight girls and 20 boys were infrequent gamers, who played less than nine hours a week.

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed differences in the test subjects' brains. Frequent gamers had more gray matter in a portion of the brain known as the left ventral striatum, which affects the interplay of emotions and behavior. Previous research identified striatal function as a "core candidate promoting addictive behavior," the authors wrote.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the team also observed changes in the kids' brains as they participated in a task that simulated anticipating and receiving a reward. They found that frequent gamers had greater brain activity when they were given feedback that they were losing. This is similar to a response seen in addicted gamblers, the authors noted, who have increased levels of the the brain chemical dopamine in the ventral striatum when they are losing money.

The authors wrote that their study is the first to correlate changes in brain structures with video gaming. They couldn't determine if the frequent gamers' brains grew larger as a result of playing video games or if those kids were attracted to gaming because that part of their brain was enlarged in the first place; scientists will need to measure the effects of video gaming on structures in the brain over time to figure that out.

But either way, discovering the link between brain structure and video games could help researchers understand the role of the brain in addictive behaviors, they wrote.

"If the striatal differences observed in the current study are indeed an effect of gaming, video gaming might post an interesting option to explore structural changes in addiction in future studies in the absence of any neurotoxic substances," they noted.

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-video-games-brain-addiction-20111115,0,7840130.story

They couldn't determine if the frequent gamers' brains grew larger as a result of playing video games or if those kids were attracted to gaming because that part of their brain was enlarged in the first place

Interesting study but they give it an unnecessary negative connotation by correlating it with addiction.

They couldn't determine if the frequent gamers' brains grew larger as a result of playing video games or if those kids were attracted to gaming because that part of their brain was enlarged in the first placeIantheone

So no. Its not confirmed.

They found that frequent gamers had greater brain activity when they were given feedback that they were losing.loco145

[QUOTE="loco145"]They found that frequent gamers had greater brain activity when they were given feedback that they were losing.Kaze_no_Mirai

I've played games my entire life and have no criminal background and have graduated college with honors so gaming definitely hasn't had a negative effect on me. According to this my brain should be about 100% gray matterBPoole96

They couldn't determine if the frequent gamers' brains grew larger as a result of playing video games or if those kids were attracted to gaming because that part of their brain was enlarged in the first placeIantheone

So no. Its not confirmed.

This. More stupid, pointless studies, when they could be devoting their time to something that actually matters.

Chicken or the egg?hexashadow13

[QUOTE="Iantheone"] So no. Its not confirmed. NaveedLife

This. More stupid, pointless studies, when they could be devoting their time to something that actually matters.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the team also observed changes in the kids' brains as they participated in a task that simulated anticipating and receiving a reward. They found that frequent gamers had greater brain activity when they were given feedback that they were losing. This is similar to a response seen in addicted gamblers, the authors noted, who have increased levels of the the brain chemical dopamine in the ventral striatum when they are losing money.

loco145

So, what do they actually mean by this? I would think addicted gamblers are more numb to losing than the average person. Whereas a normal person would feel stress or remorse over losing, an addict would either feel indifferent about the loss or potentially even get a rush from the experience. So how does this translate to gamers? Do the tend to be less disappointed when losing a competition than your average person? Are they more likely to repeat behaviors that do not yield a reward or behaviors which potentially harm them?

Interesting study but they give it an unnecessary negative connotation by correlating it with addiction.

starwarsgeek112

...because that's exactly right. gaming isn't justlike an addiction; it is one.

[QUOTE="starwarsgeek112"]

Interesting study but they give it an unnecessary negative connotation by correlating it with addiction.

Leejjohno

...because that's exactly right. gaming isn't justlike an addiction; it is one.

[QUOTE="loco145"]

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the team also observed changes in the kids' brains as they participated in a task that simulated anticipating and receiving a reward. They found that frequent gamers had greater brain activity when they were given feedback that they were losing. This is similar to a response seen in addicted gamblers, the authors noted, who have increased levels of the the brain chemical dopamine in the ventral striatum when they are losing money.

PatchMaster

So, what do they actually mean by this? I would think addicted gamblers are more numb to losing than the average person. Whereas a normal person would feel stress or remorse over losing, an addict would either feel indifferent about the loss or potentially even get a rush from the experience. So how does this translate to gamers? Do the tend to be less disappointed when losing a competition than your average person? Are they more likely to repeat behaviors that do not yield a reward or behaviors which potentially harm them?

It means they are rewarded for losing just as they are for winning. Losing releases dopamine to "numb" the loss - that feeling is addictive.

[QUOTE="Leejjohno"]

[QUOTE="starwarsgeek112"]

Interesting study but they give it an unnecessary negative connotation by correlating it with addiction.

DarkLink77

...because that's exactly right. gaming isn't justlike an addiction; it is one.

Its completly true, Addictions arent purely physical. You can get addicted to just about any sort of positive stimulation.

[QUOTE="Leejjohno"]

[QUOTE="starwarsgeek112"]

Interesting study but they give it an unnecessary negative connotation by correlating it with addiction.

DarkLink77

...because that's exactly right. gaming isn't justlike an addiction; it is one.

Im not saying everybody who plays videogames is addicted, but a lot of people are... some games even target that sort of audience such as WoW.

You ever see one of those losers putting all his money into card games and slot machines/horse races etc and loses his job/house/wife over it? it's exactly the same.

So your statement is kind of ironic among other things :P

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="Leejjohno"]

...because that's exactly right. gaming isn't justlike an addiction; it is one.

Leejjohno

Im not saying everybody who plays videogames is addicted, but a lot of people are... some games even target that sort of audience such as WoW.

You ever see one of those losers putting all his money into card games and slot machines/horse races etc and loses his job/house/wife over it? it's exactly the same.

So your statement is kind of ironic among other things :P

[QUOTE="PatchMaster"]

[QUOTE="loco145"]

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the team also observed changes in the kids' brains as they participated in a task that simulated anticipating and receiving a reward. They found that frequent gamers had greater brain activity when they were given feedback that they were losing. This is similar to a response seen in addicted gamblers, the authors noted, who have increased levels of the the brain chemical dopamine in the ventral striatum when they are losing money.

Leejjohno

So, what do they actually mean by this? I would think addicted gamblers are more numb to losing than the average person. Whereas a normal person would feel stress or remorse over losing, an addict would either feel indifferent about the loss or potentially even get a rush from the experience. So how does this translate to gamers? Do the tend to be less disappointed when losing a competition than your average person? Are they more likely to repeat behaviors that do not yield a reward or behaviors which potentially harm them?

It means they are rewarded for losing just as they are for winning. Losing releases dopamine to "numb" the loss - that feeling is addictive.

That is not what they were saying.

They couldn't determine if the frequent gamers' brains grew larger as a result of playing video games or if those kids were attracted to gaming because that part of their brain was enlarged in the first placeIantheone

So no. Its not confirmed.

TC doesn't understand correlation.

[QUOTE="Leejjohno"]

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"] That's the stupidest thing I've heard all day.DarkLink77

Im not saying everybody who plays videogames is addicted, but a lot of people are... some games even target that sort of audience such as WoW.

You ever see one of those losers putting all his money into card games and slot machines/horse races etc and loses his job/house/wife over it? it's exactly the same.

So your statement is kind of ironic among other things :P

You say that is the stupidest thing you heard all day even though it's basically true without so much as a reason why you think it's not. That's what I would call irony :P

They couldn't determine if the frequent gamers' brains grew larger as a result of playing video games or if those kids were attracted to gaming because that part of their brain was enlarged in the first placeIantheone

So no. Its not confirmed.

This. TC just trying to attract people.

Neuroscience is the new frontier for pseudoscience.

But the evidence is strong, gaming is a bit like crack!

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="Leejjohno"]

Im not saying everybody who plays videogames is addicted, but a lot of people are... some games even target that sort of audience such as WoW.

You ever see one of those losers putting all his money into card games and slot machines/horse races etc and loses his job/house/wife over it? it's exactly the same.

So your statement is kind of ironic among other things :P

Leejjohno

You say that is the stupidest thing you heard all day even though it's basically true without so much as a reason why you think it's not. That's what I would call irony :P

[QUOTE="NaveedLife"]

[QUOTE="Iantheone"] So no. Its not confirmed. FrozenLiquid

This. More stupid, pointless studies, when they could be devoting their time to something that actually matters.

ok. Thats nice and all, but I dont think we really need research on video games to be honest. It is a waste of time and money. There is TONS of research that is pointless. Even all this space junk and so on. We spend loads of money on stuff that just helps us know a little bit more about things that wont matter in the end. I just see it as a waste. Stop wondering and start living. Thats just me though ;).

Interesting study but they give it an unnecessary negative connotation by correlating it with addiction.

starwarsgeek112

Games can get adictive quite fast,and like any drug leaving them is very hard,i know my son will get mad,and put a long face when i or her mother tell him that he had enough gaming,or that he has to share the controller with hes brothers and systers,or if we send him to do something.

People get a misconception that only drugs are the only thing that can create and adiction,not saying you believe that,but many do,in fact gambling is just as bad if not worst,yet the gobernment support it,because well gamblim and loto and all that stuff pay contributions,drugs unless legal don't.

In fact for you to spend $10,000 dollars on drugs in 1 days would be impossible,you will die 100% sure,but people loss more than that gambling in a few minutes.

Games are as adictive as any drug or gambling once your hook is very hard to stop doing it.

TC doesn't understand correlation.

metroidfood

That remind me of a Benny Hill joke,from those they use to write on the wall on the show it say.

I use to be Undecide now i am not so sure.

so like, is there a reason they specifically chose 14 year olds?

This looks like a correlational study to me, so you can't say gaming affects the brain. All you can say is that there is some relationship between the two of them.

Gambling addiction results from conditioning via a variable ratio reinforcement schedule (i.e., "But next time this slot machine could be a winner.")

Gaming is not a variable ratio reinforcement, regardless of what parts of the brain are lighting up.

News: Breathing has a direct corelation to being alive.

News: Breathing has a direct corelation to being alive.

Jynxzor