Wired for Gaming: Brain Differences Found in Compulsive Video Game Players
Brain scans from nearly 200 adolescent boys provide evidence that the brains of compulsive video game players are wired differently. Chronic video game play is associated with hyperconnectivity between several pairs of brain networks. Some of the changes are predicted to help game players respond to new information. Other changes are associated with distractibility and poor impulse control. The research, a collaboration between the University of Utah School of Medicine, and Chung-Ang University in South Korea, was published online in Addiction Biology on Dec. 22, 2015.
Paper:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/adb.12347/abstract
PR:
http://healthcare.utah.edu/publicaffairs/news/2015/12/122115_WiredForGaming.php
#neuroscience #gaming #brainhealth
So we're changing (evolving?) to have more active brains but less self control over our mentation. There are initiatives in some school districts I've read about suggesting teaching meditation in school. That could fix the distractability issues rather well.
ReplyDeleteA lot of the things that distinguish us as human, like planning, culture and belief, are sort of divorced from concrete reality. Most games are built more around in-the-moment activities where you're interfacing directly with what's around you. It would be a step back from post-agrarian behaviour to the hunter part of hunter/gatherer. There are plenty out there though that require intuitive stuff like reading and strategy.
ReplyDeleteThank You for sharing this Corina Marinescu! This is an extremely relevant posting for this Father of three!
ReplyDeleteSean Ooghe Teach them meditation if you can, it's perfect for offsetting the lack of mental control!
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