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How Video Games Affect the Brain

Video games can affect the brain in a variety of ways. For example, research shows that video gamers have faster reaction times, are more accurate in their estimation of distances, and have greater cognitive workloads. 

Additionally, video games have been shown to enhance short-term memory and impulse control. However, more studies are needed to explore how different types of games affect the brain.

Using MRI scans, researchers have studied the changes in brain activity of video game addicts. They have found that certain regions of the brain, like the hippocampus, are affected by video gaming in the same way that other addictive disorders are. In particular, the caudate nucleus, which is part of the brain's reward system, is altered. This can lead to an addiction to gaming.

The study looked at brain imaging in nine and 10-year-old children. It revealed that those who played video games for at least 20 hours a week had an increase in volume in brain areas related to memory and impulse control. Those who didn't play video games had smaller volumes in those same regions.

According to the National Institutes of Health study, which involved the largest group of children to date, playing video games can actually help kids learn and develop cognitive skills. 

Kids who played games for at least three hours a day performed better on tests that measure cognitive ability, impulse control, and short memory. Furthermore, kids who played games for more than 21 hours a week showed a higher level of brain activity in memory and frontal brain regions.

Researchers have also observed that players of action video games, such as those involving shooting, shrink the hippocampus. This part of the brain is associated with memory and spatial navigation, as well as stress regulation. On the other hand, video games like Super Mario are believed to have a positive effect on the brain.

The debate over how video games affect the brain has gone on for many years. Some scientists have criticized them as being harmful while others have lauded their benefits. Many have suggested that they can help people with attention deficit disorder. One of the most important concerns is that they may not trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for rewarding feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. Fortunately, balanced gaming can produce small doses of dopamine, allowing players to enjoy the experience and feel motivated.

Research also shows that the brain can become deficient in dopamine if a person plays long and frequent gaming sessions. When a player starts to lose interest in a game, he or she will begin playing more to get the same feeling. 

Eventually, the player's brain will shut down the ability to obtain dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that triggers the senses and promotes feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. If a person has a dopamine deficiency, they may have a hard time controlling their behavior.

Researchers have also studied the effects of video gaming on the brain of college students. These young adults spent up to 10 hours each day online. During this time, they participated in World of Warcraft, a multiplayer online role-playing game. After a few weeks, they underwent brain imaging. Results from the MRI scans revealed a significant decrease in gray matter in the hippocampus.


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