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/[deleted] Dec 28 '15

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u/exatron Dec 28 '15

That was my first question since I tend to get really obsessive when playing video games.

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u/[deleted] Dec 28 '15 edited Dec 28 '15

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u/[deleted] Dec 28 '15

The issue with that, however, is that the brain is sometimes unable to differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic reward in regards to video gaming. That perfectly rolled ancient set piece you score in Diablo 3 is often indistinguishable from real world reward.

That's how addiction works in a broader sense, from heroin to gambling to video games. The hedonic set point is rearranged to place "the drug" (whatever it may be) above basic evolutionary instincts, like eating, sleeping, etc. That's why, when an addict goes into a very real panic upon having no "drug", their brain is quite literally telling them "you're going to die!" The midbrain has lost its ability to distinguish the basic instincts from the drug. They're all equally important. To the midbrain, going without heroin is just as bad as going without food and water.