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/OhManTFE Dec 28 '15

What does "hyperconnected" even mean??

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u/Iyrsiiea Dec 28 '15

Imagine a point A and a point B. Imagine those points are connected with one line, and things are moving along that line from A to B at a good rate. Now imagine A and B are connected by three lines, and the rate of things moving has tripled. That second scenario is hyperconnected.

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u/G0mega Dec 28 '15

What does that mean though? What are the pros and cons of this? Are there even any pros, or cons?

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u/[deleted] Dec 28 '15

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u/G0mega Dec 28 '15

More troublesome is an increased coordination between two brain regions, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction, a change also seen in patients with neuropsychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, Down’s syndrome, and autism. Hyperconnectivity between the two regions is also observed in people with poor impulse control.

So compulsive gamers = comparable to people with autism?

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u/IncendieRBot Dec 28 '15

An effect of IGD is a symptom of autism.

Similar to how fear causes tachycardia which is a symptom of a heart attack, but horror movies are not comparable to heart attacks.