Scientists have collected and summarized studies on how video games can shape our brains and behavior. Research to date suggests that playing video games can change the brain regions responsible for attention and visuospatial skills and make them more efficient. The researchers also looked at studies exploring brain regions associated with the reward system and how they relate to video game addiction. Studies show that playing video games can change our brain's performance and even its structure. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Do you play video games? If so, you are not alone. Video games are becoming more and more common and are increasingly popular among adults. The average age of gamers has been increasing and was estimated at 35 in 2016. Changing technology also means that more people are exposed to video games. Many committed gamers play on desktops or consoles, but a new generation of casual gamers has emerged, who play on smartphones and tablets in their spare moments throughout the day, such as during their morning commute. So we know that video games are an increasingly common form of entertainment, but do they have an effect on our brains and behavior? Over the years, the media has made various sensationalist claims about video games and their effects on our health and happiness. "Gaming has sometimes been touted or demonized, often without real data to support these claims. Plus, gaming is a popular activity, so everyone seems to have strong opinions on the subject," Marc Palaus recently said, first author of the journal. published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Palaus and his colleagues wanted to see if any trends had emerged from the research conducted so far regarding how video games affect the structure and activity of our brains. They brought together the results of 116 scientific studies, of which 22 focused on structural changes in the brain and 100 on changes in brain functionality and/or behavior. Studies show that playing video games can change our brain's performance and even its structure. For example, playing video games affects our attention, and some studies have shown that gamers show improvements in several types of attention, like sustained attention or selective attention. Brain regions involved in attention are also more efficient in gamers and require less activation to maintain attention on demanding tasks. There is also evidence that video games can increase the size and efficiency of brain regions linked to visuospatial skills. For example, the right hippocampus was enlarged in long-time gamers and volunteers following a video game training program. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Personalized Trial Video games can also be addictive, and this type of addiction is called “Internet gaming disorder.” Researchers have discovered functional and structural changes in the neural reward system in gambling addicts, in part by exposing them to gambling cues that provoke cravings and monitoring their neural responses. These neural changes are basically the same as those seen in other addictive disorders...