Study highlights differences in brains of compulsive gamers

People who compulsively play videogames often present differences in the development of their brains that can have positive and negative effects, according to research.

The University of Utah Health Sciences study analysed brain scans from nearly 200 adolescent boys, finding that chronic videogame habits are associated with hyperconnectivity between several pairs of brain networks.

Certain brain networks that process vision or hearing are more likely to have enhanced coordination to the salience network among those in this group, allowing them to think more efficiently and respond to new information better.

However, compulsive gamers also have a stronger connection between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction, a phenomenon that can lead to distractibility and poor impulse control.

The study was not able to demonstrate whether gaming affected the wiring of the subjects' brains, or whether it simply shows that those with this kind of brain structure are more likely to play games regularly.

Senior author Dr Jeffrey Anderson, associate professor of neuroradiology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, said: "Most of the differences we see could be considered beneficial. However, the good changes could be inseparable from problems that come with them."