Podcast
Questions and Answers
Video game players display improvements in several types of ______, including sustained attention and selective attention.
Video game players display improvements in several types of ______, including sustained attention and selective attention.
attention
The right ______ was enlarged in long-term gamers due to their gaming activities.
The right ______ was enlarged in long-term gamers due to their gaming activities.
hippocampus
Playing video games increases the size and competence of parts of the brain responsible for ______ skills.
Playing video games increases the size and competence of parts of the brain responsible for ______ skills.
visuospatial
In gaming addicts, there are functional and structural alterations in the neural ______ system.
In gaming addicts, there are functional and structural alterations in the neural ______ system.
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The phenomenon known as 'Internet gaming ______' describes the potential addictive nature of video gaming.
The phenomenon known as 'Internet gaming ______' describes the potential addictive nature of video gaming.
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Around the world, video gamers spend billions of hours per week in front of their ______.
Around the world, video gamers spend billions of hours per week in front of their ______.
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The average American gamer is a ______-year-old adult.
The average American gamer is a ______-year-old adult.
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In 2016, the video game industry sold more than ______ billion games.
In 2016, the video game industry sold more than ______ billion games.
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The top three best-selling video games of 2016 included Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and ______.
The top three best-selling video games of 2016 included Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and ______.
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Decades of research examining video gaming and ______ have failed to reach consensus.
Decades of research examining video gaming and ______ have failed to reach consensus.
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A total of ______ of the reviewed studies explored structural changes in the brain.
A total of ______ of the reviewed studies explored structural changes in the brain.
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Games have sometimes been praised or ______, often without real data backing up those claims.
Games have sometimes been praised or ______, often without real data backing up those claims.
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Results of the studies indicate that playing video games changes both how our brains perform and their ______.
Results of the studies indicate that playing video games changes both how our brains perform and their ______.
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Study Notes
Video Games and the Brain
- Global video game usage is significant, with billions of hours spent weekly.
- Over 150 million US residents play video games regularly (at least 3 hours weekly). Average gamer is a 35-year-old adult.
- 72% of gamers are 18 or older. 71% of parents believe video games positively affect their children.
- Video game sales increased from 21.4 billion in 2014 to 24.5 billion in 2016.
- Top 3 best-selling games in 2016: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Battlefield 1, and Grand Theft Auto V.
- First-person shooter and action-adventure are the top two genres by sales, at 27.5% and 22.5% respectively.
Impact on Brain Structure and Function
- Research indicates video games affect brain structure and function across numerous areas.
- 116 scientific studies were reviewed to analyze video game influence on brain & behavior.
- Improvement in attention types (sustained and selective) via video games.
- Gamer brains operate more efficiently in attention tasks, requiring less activation.
- Visuospatial skills boosted by gaming – study of brain capacity reveal more proficient skills and enlarged right hippocampus.
Video Game Addiction
- Video game addiction (Internet gaming disorder) is a real concern.
- Structural and functional changes in the reward system are linked to addiction (pleasure, learning, and motivation).
- Addicts exhibit altered brain responses to gaming cues.
- These changes are similar to those observed in other addictive disorders.
Caveats and Further Research
- While gaming affects the brain, this doesn't guarantee real-life impact is always observed.
- Research on video games and brain is ongoing, investigating specific impact on certain brain areas.
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Description
Explore the significant influence of video games on brain structure and function. This quiz covers statistics on video game usage, demographics, and the positive effects perceived by parents and research findings on cognitive improvements among gamers.
