Video Games Don’t Completely Damage Your Brain
A recent study found that people who played first-person shooters experienced contraction of the hippocampus , an area of the brain responsible for both memory management and spatial navigation. But is Call of Duty really that bad for you, and if so, can a daily dose of Super Mario 64 balance it out?
Headline: New Research Links Video Games To Brain Damage | Fan
History: Over a four-year study, the study tracked a group of people who identified themselves as non-gaming with MRI scans to determine how playing certain games affected their brain structure. Subjects who played games such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto V noticed a decrease in gray matter in the hippocampus.
Decreasing gray matter in the hippocampus isn’t good, especially if you’re older. “You want your hippocampus to be tough, filled with gray matter, and able to form new connections,” says clinical psychologist Greg Fonzo , who was not involved in the study. But he also doesn’t think you should worry about losing precious gray matter while enjoying Counter-Strike if you’re taking steps to mitigate damage. And, according to research, other video games may actually be the antidote.
“It’s a trade-off because [people playing action games] are showing an increase in other areas of mental activity,” Fonzo notes. While their hippocampus shrank, they also showed an increase in gray matter in their caudate nucleus , an area of the brain partially responsible for habit learning.
The researchers believe this decline is due to the fact that action games, which often involve direct routes and on-screen map overlays, do not take advantage of the spatial mapping capabilities of the hippocampus. Instead, they reward habits such as following a specific route and responding quickly to a familiar threat. They can also cause feelings of stress, which Fonzo and the researchers point out was associated with a decrease in gray matter.
On the other hand, subjects who played Mario Brothers 3D platform games noticed an increase in gray matter in their hippocampus. So you probably don’t need to worry about losing precious gray matter while enjoying Borderlands 2 if you’re playing other types of games. The researchers who conducted the study suggest that “a balanced use of the memory systems of both the hippocampus and the caudate nucleus is ideal,” so it is likely that action games can be played if you use your brain in other ways as well.
Takeaway: Of course, you shouldn’t sit and play video games all day. As Dad said, it will rot (well, at least part of) your brain. But the damage isn’t permanent, and you can even add a little gray matter to your dome by playing the right games that encourage exploration and problem solving, rather than just camp and shoot soldiers on the net.