How Playing Video Games Affect Your Brain

Summary

This video script delves into the impact of video games on the brain, focusing on action and strategy games. It highlights how action games can improve visual attention and contrast sensitivity but may also increase activity in regions associated with anxiety and reduce frontal lobe activity. Strategy games, on the other hand, are linked to cognitive development and enhanced brain regions for visual spatial thinking. The script also discusses internet gaming disorder and gender differences in brain activation during gaming. The research is ongoing, indicating the complexity and dual nature of video games' effects on the brain.

Takeaways

• 🎮 There are two main types of video games discussed: action games and strategy games.
• 🔫 Action games, like Fortnite and PUBG, involve high speed, high perceptual and motor load, and unpredictability.
• 🧠 Playing action video games can improve visual attention and contrast sensitivity, which is important for tasks like night driving.
• ⚠️ Violent video games may have negative effects, reducing activity in the prefrontal cortex and increasing activity in regions associated with anxiety and emotional reaction.
• 🤔 Strategy games have been linked to positive cognitive development, including improved memory and visual spatial thinking.
• 🧐 The right hippocampus is enlarged in long-term gamers, suggesting a structural change in the brain due to gaming.
• 🕊️ Strategy games are generally viewed as having minor to no negative aspects on the brain.
• 🔄 Video game addiction, known as internet gaming disorder, can lead to functional and structural changes in the brain.
• 👦👧 A study by Stanford researchers found that male and female brains react differently to video games, with men showing greater activation in reward circuitry.
• 🧬 The connectivity within the reward circuitry in male brains was linked to better game performance.
• 🔬 Research into the effects of video games on the brain is ongoing, with scientists working to understand the full spectrum of impacts.

Q & A

What are the two main types of video games discussed in the script?

The two main types of video games discussed in the script are action games and strategy games.

What is the most popular video game area mentioned in the script and an example of a game in this category?

The most popular video game area mentioned is battle royale/slash action shooter games, with Fortnite being a heavily popular example.

How do action video games affect the brain according to the script?

Action video games affect the brain by including high speed, high perceptual and motor load, unpredictability, and an emphasis on peripheral processing. They can attenuate prefrontal cortex activity and affect cognition in the right hippocampus and occipitoparasial regions.

What improvements in cognitive functions are associated with playing action video games?

Playing action video games can improve visual attention and contrast sensitivity, which is essential for tasks like driving at night.

What are some concerns regarding the effects of violent video games on the brain?

Violent video games can lower activity in the prefrontal sections of the brain, increase activity in regions associated with arousal, anxiety, and emotional reaction, while reducing activity in frontal lobes associated with emotion regulation and executive control.

What positive effects do strategy games have on the human brain?

Strategy games can improve cognitive development, such as greater sensitivity to contrast, better Idaho coordination, superior memory, and increase the size and efficiency of brain regions related to visual spatial thinking.

How does the script describe the potential negative aspect of video games?

The script describes video game addiction, known as internet gaming disorder, which can lead to functional and structural changes in the nervous system.

What was the purpose of the game involving a vertical line called 'the wall' in the Stanford study?

The purpose of the game was to study how video games affect different genders' brains. Participants had to click on balls before they hit the wall to gain space, and their brain activity was monitored using an fMRI machine.

What did the Stanford study find about the brain's activation in male and female participants?

The study found that male brains showed much greater activation in the metacortamic colemic center and the reward circuit structures, which correlated with how much territory they gained in the game.

How did the researchers conclude the effects of video games are still not fully understood?

Researchers concluded that the effects of video games are still in their infancy because they are still working out which aspects of games affect which brain regions and how.

What is the final message of the script regarding the effects of video games on the brain?

The final message is that video games have both positive and negative aspects, and it's important to embrace this complexity in understanding their impact on the brain.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Effects of Video Games on the Brain

This paragraph explores the impact of video games on cognitive development and brain function. It distinguishes between action and strategy games, highlighting how action games like Fortnite and PUBG can influence visual attention and contrast sensitivity but may also increase activity in brain regions related to emotional reactions and reduce executive control. Strategy games, on the other hand, are praised for their positive effects on cognitive development, such as enhancing visual spatial thinking and memory. The paragraph also touches on the addictive nature of video games and the potential neurological changes in gaming addicts.

🧠 Gender Differences in Gaming Brain Activity

This section delves into a study conducted by Stanford researchers to understand how video games affect the brains of different genders. The study involved a game with a vertical wall and balls that players had to click before they hit the wall. The study used an fMRI machine to monitor brain activity during gameplay. It was found that while both male and female participants clicked on the same number of balls, males gained more space due to strategic clicking. The fMRI data revealed that the brain's metacortamic colemic center, associated with planning and association, was more activated in males. Additionally, the reward circuit in the male brain, including the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and orbital cortex, showed greater interconnectivity, which correlated with better game performance.

Keywords

💡Video Games

Video games are interactive electronic entertainments that often involve players controlling characters or objects on a screen. In the video's context, video games are the central subject, with discussions on their impact on the brain and the different types available. The script mentions how video games are often perceived and the scientific studies that explore their effects on cognition and behavior.

💡Action Games

Action games are a genre of video games that emphasize speed, quick reflexes, and motor skills. The video discusses how these games can have high perceptual and motor load, unpredictability, and an emphasis on peripheral processing. The script specifically mentions 'battle royale slash action shooter games' like Fortnite, H1Z1, and PUBG, and how they can affect brain regions associated with visual attention and contrast sensitivity.

💡Strategy Games

Strategy games are a type of video game that requires players to plan and make tactical decisions to achieve victory. The video highlights the positive effects of strategy games on cognitive development, such as improved memory and visual spatial thinking. The script also notes that these games can increase the size and efficiency of brain regions related to these skills, with the right hippocampus being a key area mentioned.

💡Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex is a part of the brain involved in executive functions, such as decision-making and emotion regulation. The video script discusses how playing action video games can attenuate activity in the prefrontal cortex, which implies effects on cognition and emotional response. An example given is that just 10 to 20 minutes of violent gaming can increase activity in regions associated with arousal and anxiety while reducing activity in the frontal lobes.

💡Cognitive Development

Cognitive development refers to the growth of a person's cognitive abilities, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. The video emphasizes that playing strategy games can enhance cognitive development. It provides examples like increased contrast sensitivity and improved Idaho coordination, which are linked to the effects of video games on the brain.

💡Internet Gaming Disorder

Internet Gaming Disorder is a condition characterized by excessive and compulsive gaming behaviors that interfere with daily life. The video script mentions this as a potential negative aspect of video gaming, noting that researchers have found functional and structural changes in the nervous system of gaming addicts, which suggests a neurological impact of gaming addiction.

💡Metacortical Colemic Center

The metacortical colemic center is a brain region associated with planning and decision-making. In the context of the video, it is highlighted in a study where male participants showed greater activation in this area during a gaming task, which correlated with better performance in acquiring space in the game. This suggests a link between brain activation in this region and strategic gaming behavior.

💡Nucleus Accumbens

The nucleus accumbens is a part of the brain's reward circuit that plays a role in pleasure, motivation, and learning. The video script discusses how structures within the reward circuit, including the nucleus accumbens, influence each other more in men than in women during gaming. This indicates a gender difference in how the brain's reward system responds to video games.

💡Amygdala

The amygdala is an almond-shaped brain region involved in processing emotions. The video mentions the amygdala as part of the interconnected reward circuitry that is more active in men during video gaming. This suggests that emotional processing may be linked to the rewarding aspects of gaming, particularly in male players.

💡Orbital Cortex

The orbital cortex is a part of the brain involved in decision-making and emotional regulation. The video script notes that the orbital cortex is more interconnected with other reward circuit structures in male brains during gaming. This indicates a potential gender difference in how the brain processes rewards and decision-making in the context of video games.

💡Functional and Structural Changes

Functional and structural changes refer to alterations in the way the brain operates and its physical makeup, respectively. The video script discusses how gaming addicts show these types of changes in their nervous systems, indicating that prolonged and intense gaming can have lasting effects on brain function and structure.

Highlights

Video games can affect cognition and brain activity, particularly in areas like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.

Action video games, such as Fortnite and PUBG, involve high speed and motor load, and can improve visual attention and contrast sensitivity.

Violent video games may reduce prefrontal cortex activity and increase anxiety and emotional reaction, affecting areas related to emotion regulation.

Strategy games have been shown to improve cognitive development, including memory and visual spatial thinking.

Long-term gaming can increase the size and efficiency of brain regions related to visual spatial thinking, like the right hippocampus.

Internet gaming disorder is a recognized addiction that can cause functional and structural changes in the brain.

A study from Stanford University examined how video games affect the brains of different genders, using an interactive game involving a 'wall' and 'balls'.

The study found that male participants gained more space in the game due to better identification of strategic moves.

Functional MRI (fMRI) was used to observe brain activity during the game, revealing gender differences in brain activation patterns.

Male brains showed greater activation in the metacortamic colemic center, associated with planning and association.

The reward circuit in male brains, including the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and orbital cortex, was more interconnected and influenced game performance.

The study suggests that the connectivity of the reward circuit in the brain can impact video game performance in males.

Research into the effects of video games on the brain is still in its early stages, with scientists working to understand the full impact.

Video games have both positive and negative aspects, and it's important to embrace this complexity when considering their effects on the brain.

The transcript emphasizes the need for ongoing research to fully understand how different aspects of video games affect various brain regions.

Transcripts

when you think of video games what comes

to your mind is it you playing a video

game with your friends and enjoying it

is it one of your parents telling you to

stop playing so much and that you're

rotting your brain wait back up a moment

rotting your brain do video games

actually affect your brain well i'm glad

to tell you you're in the right place

today we'll be looking at the main types

of video games and the myths and facts

surrounding them there are two main

types of video games we're going to be

looking at today action games and

strategy games let's first start off

with what has become the most popular

video game area in the past years battle

royale slash action shooter games most

people minds go to the heavily popular

game of fortnite but there are many

other games in this category even games

that are precisely like fortnite but

were released before it such as h1z1 and

pubg but how do these types of games

affect your brain besides being violent

action games include high speed high

perceptual and motor load

unpredictability and an emphasis on

peripheral processing playing these

action video games attenuates prefrontal

cortex activity and implies that playing

video games also affects cognition in

the right hippocampus and

occipitoparasial regions studies from

nature near science show that playing an

action video game can improve visual

attention another study which also

appeared in nature neuroscience

demonstrated that action games could

improve adults contrast sensitivity

which is essential for driving at night

but violent video games are also an area

of concern to some experts in the gaming

field in a study of 45 teens playing a

violent game for only 30 minutes lower

the activity in the prefrontal sections

of the brain just 10 to 20 minutes of

violent gaming can increase activity in

the brain regions associated with

arousal anxiety and emotional reaction

while simultaneously reducing activity

in the frontal lobes associated with

emotion regulation and executive control

on the other hand strategy games have

received much positive criticism on

their effects on the human brain with

minor to no negative aspects

research has shown that playing

these types of strategy games can

improve cognitive development such as

greater sensitivity to contrast better

idaho coordination and superior memory

evidence is also present that these

types of video games can increase the

size and efficiency of brain regions

related to visual spatial thinking for

example the right hippocampus again is

enlarged in long-term gamers and also

volunteers following a video game

training program but video games can

also be addictive and this kind of

addiction is known as internet gaming

disorder researchers have found many

examples of functional and structural

changes in the nervous system in brains

of gaming addicts let's move on to

another topic

how do video games affect different

genders brains

researchers in stanford decide to study

this topic the researchers designed a

game involving a vertical line

called the wall in the middle of a

computer screen when the game begins 10

balls appear to the right of the wall

and travel left toward the wall

each time a ball is clicked it

disappears from the screen

if the ball hits the wall then they lose

space on the screen making the wall

shrink if they click on the balls that

get really close to the wall before they

hit the wall the wall goes to the right

and gets bigger and they get more space

during this study 22 young adults 11 men

and 11 women played numerous 24 second

intervals of the game while being hooked

up to an fmri machine

fmri is designed to produce an image

showing which parts of the brain are

working during a given activity all

participants quickly learned the point

of the game and the male and female

participants wound up clicking on the

same number of balls

the men however wound up gaining a

significantly greater amount of space

than the woman that's because the men

identified which balls that are the ones

that are closest to the wall would help

them acquire the most space if clipped

after analyzing the imaging data for the

entire group the researchers found that

the participants stored activation in

the brain's metacortamic colemic center

this is the region that is typically

associated with their board and

association

male brains however showed much greater

activation and the amount of activation

was correlated with how much territory

that they gained

three structures within the reward

circuit the nucleus accumbens amygdala

and orbital cortex were shown to

influence each other in much more in men

than in women and the better connected

the circuit was the better males

performed in the game as video games are

still relatively new the research into

their effects is still in its infancy

scientists are still working out what

aspects of games affect which brain

regions and how video games like they

have both positive and negative aspects

and we must embrace this complexity

[Music]

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