VIDEO GAMES AND THE BRAIN: THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
November 25th, 2009 by Niki
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.
December 10th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
MTV’s Redraw the Line Challenge
Cell phones and social networks help us stay connected in ways we never could before, but they’ve also given birth to digital drama that can quickly spiral out of control. MTV’s A Thin Line campaign is looking for new ways to dial down this drama, and if you have a great idea that helps young people identify, prevent and stop the spread of digital abuse, enter to win $10,000!
http://www.athinline.org/challenge
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:47 pm
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April 28th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Just wanted to say that most of this is not true for many reason you say it is additive to true i play video games. If I don’t wan to play guess what i don’t play it not like drugs at all not even close you don’t sit there thinking about playing videos games all day you don’t have an you don’t go crazy when not play video games not like doing pot does . 30 min i don’t get it just like watching TV it is entertainment you have fun when doing it. Also video game industry is a billion droller industry big then the movie industry it has been shown that most people who buy video games are 20 to 30 or even 40 years old. Also kid who play violent video games is well that just the parents fault. Most kid are not effected that badly to them only little kids are who are 3 to 13.
July 28th, 2010 at 3:40 am
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