Abstract

Games have been around for centuries, but in the last few decades video-games have become increasingly popular. Whether it be on computers, gaming consoles, or hand-held devices (cell phone, iPad, Nintendo Switch), these games have a high prevalence in both children and adults. The effects of playing video games in multiple domains has been widely explored by researchers. Some of the effects studied include addiction, attention, cognitive development, aggression, and compulsive behavior. It has also been noted that video-games can affect the brains structural components in many different regions including, the left ventral striatum, the left thalamus, and bilateral frontal lobes. However these effects have been contradicting, some studies show that there is an increase in these structural components, and others report decreases. In a recent article, researchers investigated the effects of playing violent video games on both grey matter and white matter in participants with a mean age of 23.6 ± 4 years. Their results showed that there was a significant decrease in both gray and white matter volume in multiple brain regions. Indicating that increased violent video-game usage decreases structural components in the brain, which could possibly affect cognitive functions 

Background

With the digital era advancements, the prevalence of technology usage, including video-games (VG), has significantly increased. In 2016, it was reported that 59% of all Americans play video-game, and among those age 12-17, 97% play video-games. Research on the effects of this digital platform has also been increasingly prevalent. With more studies showing the implications of violent video-games on brain structures and the addictive properties of playing these games. The term video-game addict (VGA) has been coined to diagnose those with an addiction to playing video-games. In the recent study, the implications of addictive video-game playing on the structural components of the brain (grey and white matter) were assessed. 

Methods

In the study conducted by Mohammadi and colleagues, 29 men with VGA and 29 healthy control men were recruited. The criteria that the VGA participants had to include playing first person shooter games for at least two hours a day for at least two years. As well as playing violent VG since 6.6 ± 3.3 years for 4.7 ± 2.2 hours a day. On the other hand, all control participants had no experience playing any video games. All participants then underwent various psychometric assessments to evaluate several behavioral and psychological characteristics. Some of these tests include the German version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), The Brief Symptom Check list (BSCL), and a FAF to assess factors of aggression. Then, participants underwent diffusion weighted imaging using a twice refocused PGSE method, and a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to measure the structural components. The VBM was then analyzed fractional anisotropy (FA) using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). These imaging methods were used to measure the anisotropic diffusion of water in the white matter tracts to localize brain changes (FA and TBSS), as well as to localize changes in gray matter density (VBM). Similarly, a study conducted by Weng and colleagues used VBM to assess grey matter and white matter changes in young men who watch violent television shows. 

Results 

There was a significant difference found between VGA and the control group, where those with a VGA had higher scores in multiple tests, including distress levels, aggression, antisocial behaviors, emotional regulation, and hostility. Behavioral test also found that those in the VGA group had a significantly lower score on the social self-esteem scale (Fig. 1). The VBM imaging showed significantly lower gray matter intensity in the VGA group compared to the control in multiple brain regions (Fig. 1). These regions include the right Inferior frontal gyrus, pars opercularis, right supramarginal gyrus, left and right superior temporal gyrus, right insula and right opercular cortex, the right planum temporal and the middle temporal gyrus on both sides. ⁵ The results from the VBM test indicated that there was a negative correlation between the length of playing violent VG and gray matter intensity. Results from the TBSS analysis showed that in the VGA group, a significant reduction in FA in both the cingulum on both sides, near the hippocampus. ⁵ There was also a positive correlation found between the length of playing violent VG and FA in the right anterior corona radiata, indicating a relationship between FA of different white matter areas and increase in VGA behavior (Fig. 1). ⁵ These results are both similar and different from previous studies. Some studies have suggested that since video gaming takes training, this would increase grey matter volume in the brain. However, other research suggest that those with video game addiction or internet gaming disorder, have significant gray matter atrophy in various regions of the brain.

Conclusion

The brain is responsible for controlling the body’s information processing, regulating behavior, memory, amongst other functions. Therefore, when disease or injury strikes, there can be detrimental effects that ensue. As seen in other studies concerning decrease in brain volume, due to alcohol, these effects can cause severe neurological implications. The study conducted by Mohammadi and colleagues showed results negatively correlating the increase in violent video game play and the decrease in gray matter volumes, as well as a positive correlation with increase white matter volume. The general implications of this study suggest that when young adult men spend ample time playing violent video games, they are at risk for multiple behavioral issues, as well as a decrease in gray matter volume and an increase in white matter volume. While this study had similar results to others, there were some noted limitations to address. One would be the small sample size for each group, as well as the researchers noted that they did not asses for other comorbidities. Another limitation that was noted by researchers included their choice to not use other markers for reduction in white matter volume. If the researchers would have used a different or an additional marker, the results could have been different and correlated with similar studies. Overall, this study shows results that are important to address in further research. The results in this study, amongst similar research, indicate that the implications of violent video games need to be further addressed. More research is definitely needed to determine what the classification of “violent video games” mean and how other video games affect the structural components of the brain, or total brain volume. 

[+] References

[+] Other Work By Taylor Wright