Why are Video Games Addicting? Video Gaming Effects on the Brain.

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People often wonder why video games are addicting. Some argue that they aren’t addicting at all and that they have no impact on the brain. To be sure, gaming addiction and gaming disorder are controversial topics. That’s why researchers are studying gaming, the brain, and addiction. They’re discovering that people can indeed become addicted to video games and that video gaming effects on the brain are significant. They’re also discovering why video games are addicting.

Thanks in part to functional imaging studies, scientists can see that gaming affects the brain like substance addictions. When someone addicted to gaming sees images relating to the video games they play, the same areas of the brain activate as those of people addicted to substances and experiencing cravings.

It’s important to note that, while video games can be addicting, thus negatively impacting lives, these games aren’t all bad. Like everything in life, gaming isn’t all-or-nothing, either only good or only bad. The effects of gaming on the brain are significant and varying. Some effects are positive, and some are negative. Video game effects on the brain give clues as to why video games are addicting.

Video Gaming Effects on the Brain

Playing video games can boost the brain and its ability to think, reason and problem solve. Many video games are complex and get increasingly more difficult as the player progresses. Some involve interaction with others in collaboration toward a goal.

Video gaming has direct effects on the physical brain. “Gaming,” asserts Dr. Peter Gray, research professor at Boston College and author of books and articles on such topics as developmental and educational psychology, “can increase the volume of the right hippocampus and the cortex, which are involved in executive functioning, including the ability to solve problems and make reasoned decisions”

In addition to sharpening executive functioning, positive effects of gaming on the brain include:

Strengthening of the visual activity centers of the brain

Increased ability to pay attention

improved spatial memory

enhanced hand-eye coordination

improved ability to rapidly process information and choose a response

heightened mental flexibility

Clearly, there are brain benefits to gaming. Unfortunately, there are also drawbacks, including addiction and negative effects of gaming on the brain. Looking at these negative effects provides insight into why people can become addicted to gaming.

Why Are Video Games Addicting?

Despite the positive aspects of gaming, video games can cause difficulties within the brain. This is because of the way addiction works within the brain (Am I Addicted to Video Games, Gaming?).

Video gaming has direct effects on the physical brain. "Gaming," asserts Dr. Peter Gray, research professor at Boston College and author of books and articles on topics such as developmental and educational psychology, "may increase the volume of the right hippocampus and cortex involved in executive functioning, including the ability to solve problems and make rational decisions."

In addition to sharpening executive function, the positive effects of gaming on the brain include:

Strengthening the visual activity centers of the brain

Increased attention span

Improved spatial memory

Better hand-eye coordination

Improved ability to process information faster and select a response

Increased mental flexibility

Clearly, gaming has brain benefits. Unfortunately, there are also drawbacks, including the addictive and negative effects of gaming on the brain. Looking at these negative effects provides insight into why people can become addicted to gaming.

Why are video games so addictive?

Despite the positive aspects of gaming, video games can cause problems for the brain. This is because of the way addiction works in the brain (Am I addicted to video games, gaming?).