Video games decrease brain activity

[ultragaijin]

Research: video games decrease brain activity (http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20020708p2a00m0fp013001c.html)

Prolonged time playing video games could cause people to lose concentration, get angry easily and have trouble associating with others, a Japanese professor's research has suggested.

It was found that the longer people spent playing video games, the less activity they showed in the prefrontal region of their brains, which governs emotion and creativity.

[Crispy]

When I am playing a twitch-based game and my upper brain functions completely disengage, that's when I enter "the zone", and it is rare to happen (moderate amounts of alcohol can help). That state of mind goes away after the game is over, though. I don't know what's wrong with these folks, staying in that state after the game is over. What the hell kinds of games were they playing?

[cstaylor]

Well, if all they ever do is play video games, then I can see how they're always in that haze.

Golf is pretty frustrating at times too, but at least you get a nice walk and some beautiful scenery out of the deal. :wink:

[tokyojoe]

I actually find game playing to be relaxing. The only side effect is that sometimes I can still see the levels when I close my eyes and try to sleep. Especially happens with shooters.

[kamome]

I need to stop playing Madden NFL 2002 right before I go to sleep. Everytime I play that game, I come away from it incredibly tense and worked up over it. "Arrrrggghhh, if only I hadn't gone for it on 4th and inches!", "AAAAAAHHHHH, he made the field goal with 0:00 on the clock!", "YES! 80-yard pass from Gannon to Rice to seal the victory!". That game is totally addictive.

[Crispy]

If I play too many fighting games right before bed, I have dreams that I get assaulted by thugs and beat them by pressing buttons on a console instead of actually fighting myself. Yeah, I know and understand very well that video games are messing with my brain in bizarre ways. I like them so much that I don't care though.

[ultragaijin]

Follow-up: Video game "brain damage" claim criticised (http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992538)

Mori has yet to publish any of his methods and findings and without this it is impossible to conclude that video games are damaging, said one researcher. For example, the precise placement of the electrodes and the analytical methods used to interpret the traces are both critical.

Despite popular assumption, there has been no widely accepted evidence for permanent damage or behavioural disruption caused by video games or television violence.