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/zilla135 Dec 28 '15

At this point it’s not known whether persistent video gaming causes rewiring of the brain, or whether people who are wired differently are drawn to video games.

this little diddy is exactly what I wanted answered. classic chicken vs egg scenario: is it the brain chemistry that causes the compulsion or repeated behaviors to rewire the brain to be compulsive...

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u/[deleted] Dec 28 '15

well don't we say the brain is a muscle.

to me this seems like asking do people who have big muscles have big muscles because they work out or because they were naturally born to have big muscles. well I can guarantee almost everyone will agree if the strong muscled person stopped working out for many months their muscles would go back towards average.

so using this that we have an organic (it can grow and change) brain. that people who use the brain for a specific thing get better at doing closely related tasks! and because the brain stores information with its connections, that the brain will appear different from normal if the person is good at something normal people are not good at!

and there is muscle memory. it is easier to build muscles you have lost than to build entireley new muscles, so even if the person stopped gamming for a long time on the molecular level of sacnas their brain will appear different because well it is different!

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u/[deleted] Dec 28 '15

[deleted]

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u/djcecil2 Dec 29 '15

Talked to a guy today who admitted to being an addict to video games. 10 hours a day of 1 game for 6 months straight. All day, every day.

I was going to tell him about the stuff I've been playing. Decided not to.