The Good

Recent studies have shown that if parents limit the type of video games (non-violent) and amount of playing time (30 minutes max per day), children are less likely to display aggressive behaviors.

The Bad

According to the recent Brain Health report by Dr. Amen, a leader in brain SPECT Imaging (SPECT is an acronym for Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) that measures blood flow and activity patterns in the brain, video games work in the same area of the brain as cocaine and methamphetamine. Video games increase the amount of dopamine released in the brain and for those of you who don’t know, dopamine is the chemical messenger for pleasure and plays a major role in addiction. Now, is there any wonder why kids love video games? The amount of dopamine released while playing video games is so substantial that it depletes the brains reserves leaving little if any dopamine to be released during everyday activities and relationships that would normally make them feel happy. Subsequently they are left feeling nothing at all.

The Ugly

Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine say that brain scans of kids who played a violent video game showed an increase in emotional arousal and a corresponding decrease of activity in brain areas involved in self-control, inhibition, and attention. Another study found that playing violent video games is related to having more aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.