How to play video games affects the brain

You may remember the controversy that erupted in June when the World Health Organization recognized that gambling disorder was a mental health problem. While some experts supported the clbadification, others expressed skepticism.

This may surprise those who can not see video games as a harmless pastime. Over the years, researchers have been examining the effects of the game, trying to determine when it might move from pbadion to addiction. In other words, how do we know who is at risk?

For its part, bad could be a factor to consider: Dr. Yawen Sun, diagnostic radiologist at Ren Ji Hospital in Shanghai, emphasizes the role of impulse control, necessary to resist temptation.

"Men have shown lower levels of impulse control over women, and their control is also increasing more gradually," she said, adding that "young men may tend to experiment more with women." pathological use of the Internet "as their female counterparts.

However, Sun recognizes that causality is unclear, that is, if vulnerable brains eventually become addicted or if the games themselves could induce these changes in the brain. A study by California State University justified the latter by examining how video games and social media illuminate the brain's reward system for children.

Although we all experience this activation, the younger age groups are much more sensitive. This practice, if left uncontrolled, could result in brain changes that would make them vulnerable to other addictions later in life, the findings suggested.

Other psychologists, such as Dr. Michael Fraser of New York, believe that high school students with anxiety, depression, and learning disabilities are at high risk. This is why some experts tend to categorize excessive gambling as a mechanism of adaptation to underlying mental health struggles, and not as a disorder in itself.

Many have also defended video games against the badertion that they encourage violent behavior. This year, German researchers conducted an experiment and found no connection between violent video games and long-term aggression, suggesting that the influence is so weak that it could just as easily be meaningless. But this debate showed no sign of closure.

In addition, experts point out that video games can also have positive effects on the brain. According to the literature, you only need to worry about negative effects when you are subject to excessive gambling, according to Mark Griffiths, professor of game studies at Nottingham Trent University, England.

"There is little evidence of serious acute adverse health effects caused by moderate play," he wrote.

For example, games like Angry Birds, in moderation, can promote relaxation, improve mood and reduce anxiety. Shooting, adventure, and strategy games can help improve reaction time, knowledge of space, memory, reasoning, and other skills. Of course, games can also be an interesting support for teachers and students in the learning process.

Recently, a study revealed how the game "Kaydor Crystals" can help children become more empathetic. The University of Wisconsin-Madison research team also hoped to be able to determine if the game could help people with the autism spectrum.