{"id":11656,"date":"2019-01-26T07:25:19","date_gmt":"2019-01-25T22:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/?p=11656"},"modified":"2019-01-26T07:25:19","modified_gmt":"2019-01-25T22:25:19","slug":"computer-games-and-the-brain-a-summary-with-two-key-studies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/2019\/01\/26\/computer-games-and-the-brain-a-summary-with-two-key-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"Computer games and the brain: A summary with two key studies"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this post we look at the positive effects of playing computer games by looking at how it might affect the brain, both in young and old people.<\/em><\/p>\n

We know from many MRI studies that our brain changes as a result of experience \u2013 this is called neuroplasticity<\/strong>. Therefore, it\u2019s not unrealistic to think that hours spent playing video games could have significant effects on important parts of the brain,<\/p>\n

\n
\"Prefrontal1\"<\/dt>\n
The dorsolateral PFC is a specific part of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) at the front, left outer side of the PFC. It is associated with working memory and other executive cognitive functions (i.e. higher level thinking).<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

like the hippocampus (associated with memory) and the prefrontal cortex. In particular, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is important because it has been linked with working memory and cognitive control. It might be that playing video games can improve brain function, which can improve cognition.<\/p>\n

\n

Key Study #1: Video game playing and the brain \u2013 a correlational study (Kuhn et al. 2014)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>This study gathered data on 152 teenagers (14 year olds). They measured how much time they spend playing video games and they also used MRI to measure their cortical thickness in various parts of the brain, including the dlPFC. The results showed a \u201crobust positive association between cortical thickness and video gaming duration,\u201d meaning that those kids that played more video games tended to have thicker dlPFCs (correlation = 0.30). The researchers conclude that these differences could explain findings in studies like Klingberg\u2019s that show computer gaming can have a positive effective on working memory. An interesting (but maybe not surprising) finding from the study was that boys played video games more than girls and there were no boys who said they did not play video games. However, even after the researchers controlled for gender, age and parents\u2019 education levels, the correlation still remained.<\/p>\n

\n

Video games and older people – using games to prevent Alzheimer’s<\/h3>\n

Understanding the effects of video gaming on the brain and cognition is important because video game addiction is a growing concern, especially for young people. However, it\u2019s also important for older people, too. As we age our brains start to deteriorate and keeping our brain\u2019s active could help delay or prevent diseases like Alzheimer\u2019s and dementia. Video games could be used in this way and have been the subject of many studies.<\/p>\n

\n
\"super-mario-2690254_960_720\"<\/dt>\n
Playing Super Mario 64 as an adult could help improve function in important parts of the brain and delay the onset of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s.<\/strong><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Key Study #2: The effects of playing Mario Brothers on the hippocampus (West et al. 2017)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>This study randomly allocated participants to one of three conditions:<\/p>\n