Abstract
Video game playing is a frequent recreational activity. Previous studies have reported an involvement of dopamine-related ventral striatum. However, structural brain correlates of video game playing have not been investigated. On magnetic resonance imaging scans of 154 14-year-olds, we computed voxel-based morphometry to explore differences between frequent and infrequent video game players. Moreover, we assessed the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task during functional magnetic resonance imaging and the Cambridge Gambling Task (CGT). We found higher left striatal grey matter volume when comparing frequent against infrequent video game players that was negatively correlated with deliberation time in CGT. Within the same region, we found an activity difference in MID task: frequent compared with infrequent video game players showed enhanced activity during feedback of loss compared with no loss. This activity was likewise negatively correlated with deliberation time. The association of video game playing with higher left ventral striatum volume could reflect altered reward processing and represent adaptive neural plasticity.
Highlights
Video and computer games have become a highly popular spare-time activity for children, adolescents as well as adults
Frequent compared with infrequent video game players during feedback of loss vs feedback of no loss in the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task overlapping with the region in which we observed higher striatal GM volume (Po0.001, uncorrected; for small volume correction in structural cluster of ventral striatum familywise error Po0.05; MNI coordinate: À9, 8, 4; Figure 1b)
In analogy to the negative association between deliberation time in CGT and left ventral striatum volume, we found a negative correlation between deliberation time and feedback of loss- vs no-loss-related activation in the MID task (r(153) 1⁄4 À0.25, Po0.01, Bonferroni corrected at Po0.05)
Summary
Video and computer games have become a highly popular spare-time activity for children, adolescents as well as adults. The literature reports favourable and adverse effects of frequent video game playing. It has been demonstrated that video game playing can enhance visual skills related to attention[1,2] and probabilistic inferences.[3] improvements in higher cognitive executive functions such as task switching, working memory and reasoning have been associated with gaming improvements in older adults.[4]. The neural processes underlying video game playing and gambling have been studied with functional neuroimaging. Activation of the dorsal striatum during initial training predicted later learning success in video gaming.[7]
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