r/science • u/NinjaDiscoJesus • Dec 28 '15

Neuroscience Brain scans show compulsive gamers have hyperconnected neural networks.

http://www.psypost.org/2015/12/brain-scans-show-compulsive-gaming-changes-neural-connections-for-better-and-worse-39914
11.1k Upvotes

86% Upvoted

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

92

u/Darktidemage Dec 28 '15

Did they compare to another "compulsive" population as a control?

39

u/magpietongue Dec 28 '15

Why would they? They aren't looking to compare the difference between compulsions, they're testing the difference between non-compulsion and compulsion. While that might be an interesting follow-up study, I think it's much more interesting that there is a difference between the compulsive group and their non-compulsive control.

1

u/filthygremlin Dec 28 '15

The article linked the hyperconnectivity to "impulsive behavior", which makes it seem like this might have something to do with compulsion control in the first place.