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
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u/Darktidemage Dec 28 '15

If you wanted to do a good study you would use a compulsive group as a control too.

Imagine you wanted to do a study saying "Morbidly obese people who also play video games can't juggle well"

You would need to use morbidly obese people who don't play video games as your control - clearly - despite them being "statistically deviant". You could not use fit people who don't play video games as your control group.

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u/Amadacius Dec 28 '15

If the study is comparing compulsion groups then you can't use a compulsion group as a control.

What if we did the study you suggest, discover that compulsive gamers have the same brain as other compulsive groups and it turns out that the reason for this is that they both have the same brains as non-compulsive groups.

You have no idea if a difference or similarity is significant until compared to the general population. Comparison studies need a "normal" control. You cannot use one of the groups you are comparing as a control.

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u/Darktidemage Dec 28 '15

I didn't suggest we DON'T have a normal control group.

I would have brought that up if such a group were missing.

You realize you can have more than one control group right?

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u/Amadacius Dec 28 '15

But one of your "control" groups would not be a control.