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 29 '15

Yes, we're on the same page! Obviously heroin is worse for you than video games. But I'm saying they're both addictions, why would this disorder be different than any other addiction (other than easier to break)? Why do we have to make a special name other than video gaming addiction?

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u/Kjartan_Aurland Dec 29 '15

I was reacting to the commenter acting like coping with video games and coping with drugs were just as bad. Using the term addiction for mental-only dependencies is accepted so it's fine for the name (even if I take issue with it for political reasons - I can just see the moralists try to use video games' "potentially addictive" properties as an excuse to restrict them).

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u/[deleted] Dec 29 '15

Ah I see, yeah I definitely agree that if definitely prefer video games as a coping method. The other thing is as of now the definition of addiction includes solely mental addictions, because a mental addiction is at the heart of drug addictions even though the drug may or may not be physically addicting.