Video Games and Gaming Addiction

 What does playing video games do to your brain? 

There are a variety of video game genres. Role-playing, action, adventure, sports, and strategy are the most common genres of video games.  Gaming offers us a sense of achievement, excitement, and socialization and provides us with an escape from our rather repetitive and sometimes uneventful lives. Most of us have engaged in games one way or another, but what makes video games harmful to our brains and what makes them beneficial for cognitive function?

Studies have suggested that video games increase gray matter volume and improve executive functions. Increased gray matter is associated with improved memory retention, emotional regulation, perception and control of movement. 

Video games also improve visuomotor abilities such as eye-hand coordination and can also improve cognitive flexibility such as multitasking. 

Moreover, video games are rather stimulating than movies and TV series. The constant activation of the brain’s reward system and the release of dopamine brought on by level-ups and rewards during the completion of the game provide us with a sense of accomplishment, autonomy and excitement. These feelings improve our mood but are hard to come by regularly in the real world. Nonetheless, the increased stimulation may improve attention to detail and focus, however, there is a risk of developing a gaming addiction if we do not regulate how long we spend gaming.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that makes us feel motivated and satisfied. However, dopamine is also important for learning, concentration and mood. Whenever dopamine is released, the behaviour leading to its release is reinforced resulting in repetitive behavioural patterns including endless hours of gaming.

Signs and symptoms of gaming addiction include:

• Anger and defensiveness when one cannot play video games
• Withdrawal from social interactions
• Loss of focus in other domains of life such as work or school

Since video games requires us to stare at a screen for long periods, we also have to consider what long periods of screen time do to the brain. Excessive screen time may lead to symptoms of ADHD, insomnia and poor visual perception and social development. 

Take a look at our blog "The negative effects of screen time" (May 2024), for details of what is categorized as "excessive" screen time and the negative effects of excessive screen time.

 

In summary, playing video games can:

•  Increase gray matter
•  Improve executive functions such as attention and perception
•  Improve mood and self-esteem
•  Increase cognitive flexibility
•  Increase the release of dopamine which is vital for learning and memory
• Trigger gaming addiction
• Increase the risk of insomnia
• Increase the risk of developing ADHD and poor impulse control

Several studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of gaming on brain function and cognition. However, more research is required to determine how video games influence our brains and how they can be safely used to our benefit.