Video Games & the Brain: 14 Facts we Now Know

The human brain is hardwired to adapt to the surrounding environment, and as our everyday environment changes, filled now with a myriad of digital technologies, so must our brains change, too, if they are to keep up. Few of these new digital technologies have been criticized as harshly by parents, researchers, and educators alike, with the exception of the internet itself, as video games, especially in the way their use may change how we think and act. With over 91% of kids playing video games, perhaps their concern isn’t unwarranted.

For decades, video games have been blamed for many of the ills in society, often accused of encouraging violence and creating a generation of bored, disengaged youths. Yet the reality of the effect of video games on the brain, and perhaps society as a whole, is much more complex than these accusations allow. Research compiled over the past ten years has shed new light on the true effects of video games on the brain. The results are not always what you’d expect. It reveals that the effects are neither all good nor all bad, and will hopefully lead to a more measured, equivocal approach to understanding the role these games play in society.

1. Bad language in video games has been linked to increased aggression in teens.

   While violent video games have long been accused of making teens and youngsters more violent, a new study in the medical journal Pediatrics suggests that bad language in games can actually have the same effect. Researchers found that greater exposure to profanity through video games and television made kids more likely to use that language themselves, and surprisingly more verbally and physically aggressive than their peers. Of course, the bigger issue at hand may be bad parenting, as nearly all games with extreme profanity are recommended for users 18 and up.

2. Playing violent video games can lead to increased aggression.

   Turns out that parental concerns about violence in video games may not have been entirely unfounded. The research of psychologist Bruce Bartholow suggests that the desensitizing effects of video games (generally with regard to violence) can lead to an increase in aggression. During his research, Bartholow asked participants to play either a violent or a non-violent video game, then to engage in a competitive task. Those who played the violent game were notably more aggressive during the competitive task than those who did not. Even more disturbing? The effects seem to last long after gaming is done.

3. Video games can temporarily or permanently deactivate certain nerve connections in the brain.

   Studies have shown that video games really can "blow your mind." Technology that plays strongly on the senses, as video games often do, can overwhelm the brain and can cause short or long term changes in how the brain functions. Of course, this may not always be a bad thing, and can help youngsters to learn, solve problems, and work collaboratively, as other research has demonstrated.

4. Video games can cause addictive behaviors.

   Ever wonder why it’s so hard to get gamers to step away from their systems? It could be because of the addictive effects of video games. Research has shown that the high levels of mental arousal the games cause activate the brain’s addiction and reward system, making it more and more desirable for users to continue playing and even harder to walk away. Often, this high users get from playing video games is more than just fun, and can cause obsessive or compulsive behaviors if left unchecked. While there is no formal diagnosis of video game addiction in the medical literature at present, the similarities it shares with other compulsive psychological addictions, like gambling, may make it a legitimate disorder.

5. Video games can improve skills in vision and certain aspects of cognition.

   The effects of video games on the brain aren’t all bad. In fact, research done at the University of Rochester suggests that playing games might even help children better develop their brains. Throughout the course of over 20 different studies, researchers at the school found that video games helped improve visual acuity, attention, and certain cognitive functions. Students actually performed better on tests of attention, speed, accuracy, vision, and multitasking. Gamers were better able to distinguish shades of gray, could more easily switch between tasks, and were less distracted – all skills that translate well into real-world applications.

6. The improvement of vision and cognition may come at the expense of other regions of the brain.

   There is some research out there that suggests that, while video games may help players hone skills in select regions of the brain, they can actually result in the underdevelopment of other key areas. The area that is impacted the most? The frontal lobe of the brain, especially the prefrontal cortex, responsible for efficient processing of memory tasks and emotional control. Underuse of this area of the brain was, in one study, shown to cause difficulty concentrating and socializing, as well as mood alterations and changes in behavior. This is somewhat in contrast to the results of other studies, and the true effects of game use over the long term may depend on a number of much more complex variables.

7. Video games often stir up feelings of tension and anxiety.

   Video games can keep users on the edge of their seats, but that might not always be a good thing. As it turns out, the brain doesn’t make a strong distinction between events that are happening in real life and the imaginary world of the video game. Games that arouse fear or tension, causing increased heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen consumption, can have a lasting effect on the autonomic nervous system over the long term. Players may experiences changes to their response to real-life dangers, including most commonly desensitization. Whether or not this is a good or a bad thing is up to you to decide, as it could be a valuable training tool for those involved in high-stress occupations.

8. Other research suggests that games requiring teamwork help people develop collaborative skills.

   Playing video games that require teamwork could help kids apply those skills in real life as well, studies suggest. Games that include activities that encourage players to interact with one another in a non-violent way were found to increase similar kinds of conduct outside of game play. Kids who played non-violent, collaborative games were much more likely to be helpful and cooperative with their peers than those who played neutral or violent games, proving that games can have a positive impact on behavior.

9. Video games may not always make players act out violently, but they can desensitize them to violence.

   A lot of research has been done on the ways violent video games impact players, and one of the most consistent findings is that violent games do actually desensitize regular players to violence. In one study, teen males who play violent games were compared to those who played few or no games. Those who played few games had a fairly strong emotional response to violence in games, as you would expect. What researchers discovered about those who play violent games was much more interesting, however. Frequent gamers didn’t lack a response to violent imagery, but instead suppressed their response, suggesting a desensitization to the violence in the games.

10. Researchers have discovered that video games can more quickly bolster skills in pattern recognition, system thinking, and even patience.

    For many video game players, games are so enticing and addictive precisely because they are so challenging. It is this element of challenge that may underlie many of these positive discoveries about gaming on the brain. Some studies suggest that certain types of games may be a workout for the brain and are extremely effective tools for making positive changes in how the brain processes and uses information. Games often work the same way as many educational methods, gradually increasingly difficultly as players become more practiced, which researchers believe could make them an incredibly effective teaching tool.

11. Regular video gameplay can improve hand-eye coordination.

    Consuming visual information and manipulating objects with the hands are two relatively easy things for most people to do, but doing both at the same time is considerably more challenging. Yet this action is something that is part of nearly every video gaming experience, and research done at the Centre for Vision Research at York University in Canada has found that this practice can actually reorganize how the brain handles difficult visuomotor tasks. In fact, their research showed that regular gamers actually use an entirely different part of the brain to handle visuomotor tasks, shifting the center of activity from the parietal cortex to the prefrontal cortex.

12. Heavy gaming has been linked to shorter attention spans.

    Gamers may be able to spend hours playing their favorite games, but when it comes time to shift that attention to something else, they may be at a disadvantage. While studies have shown that playing games improves the ability of the mind to multi-task, essentially directing attention at more than one stimulus at simultaneously, it can actually have a detrimental effect on sustained, deep attention given to one object or event. In fact, research has found that gamers have a reduced capacity for sustained attention, especially on tasks that don’t involve constant incoming stimuli. Researchers fear that games could be part of the reason for increases in cases of ADD and ADHD in children, as their brains are being rewired at a young age.

13. Those who struggle with video games may be able to blame brain structure.

    Much research has been done on how playing video games affects the brain, but what about how our brains affect the ability to play video games? New neurological research published in the journal Cerebral Cortex found a correlation between the size of a trio of structures in the brain and the ability to learn and play a video game. Those with more robust structures were better able to excel at the games they were asked to play. Good news for those who have never been able to master video games, as biology could be to blame.

14. Playing video games may be therapeutic for those struggling with trauma.

    Whether you believe that video games are good or bad for the brain, their ability to change how players think and act is proving to be useful for professionals in psychology and counseling. Video games are becoming part of treatment programs for a number of conditions, most prominently PTSD. Those with the condition are allowed to play a games in an immersive, virtual reality setting based on conflicts in Iraq and Vietnam which can help break down some of the barriers many professionals encounter in regularly psychotherapy by making patients more comfortable. Exposure to the sights, sounds, and even smells of the site of their trauma can often help those with PTSD face their demons and learn to cope with their traumatic experiences. Professionals also believe that video games can be a helpful tool in treatment because they help remove some of the stigma of psychotherapy.

Taken From Accredited Online Colleges