Study Shows Online Gaming Can Cause Brain Atrophy
By Movieguide® Contributor
Millions of people all over the world play video games online, but new research indicates that Internet Game Disorder is permanently affecting people’s brains.
According to a Chinese study done on university students who have been categorized as “internet addicts,” playing internet games for 8-13 hours a day, six days a week, this gaming can lead to brain atrophy.
The part of the brain that is atrophying is in certain areas of the cerebral cortex, which controls higher order processing, such as thinking, memory, and speech.
Another study, done by the National Library of Medicine, described Internet Gaming Disorder:
Internet gaming disorder involves excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations, urges, or behaviors regarding computer and videogame play that lead to impairment or distress (1). The behavioral addiction model argues that IGD shows the features of excessive use despite adverse consequences, withdrawal phenomena, and tolerance that characterize substance use disorders.
While the researchers admitted that this brain atrophy could have been pre existing, they believe that the internet usage is what is causing the change.
Dr. Aric Sigman of the Royal Society of Medicine in the UK called the study a “wake up call,” saying, “It strikes me as a terrible shame that our society requires photos of brains shrinking in order to take seriously the common-sense assumption that long hours in front of screens is not good for our children’s health.”
Movieguide® previously reported on the negative impact video games have on people:
A new study from the Center of Gambling Studies at Rutgers University found that middle-school children that use the internet, social media, or play video games in excess have lower grades.
The findings concluded by offering parents and children one hour a day of media use on the weekdays and a max of four hours on the weekends.
“Interactive technology is widely used to promote children’s educational access and achievement,” author Vivien (Wen Li) Anthony said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has been essential to facilitating remote learning. At the same time, there is a growing concern that excessive technology use, particularly for entertainment, may adversely affect children’s educational development by facilitating undesirable study habits and detracting from time spent on learning activities.”
Medical Press reported:
The researchers, which include Professor Lia Nower of the Rutgers Center for Gambling Studies and a researcher from Renmin University of China, analyzed the China Education Panel Survey data, a national survey of educational needs and outcomes of children in China. Approximately 10,000 first-year middle school students were surveyed and followed. Their average age was 13.5 years.
Further findings reportedly showed that students who played over four hours of video games, social platforms and other forms of media a day were four times more likely to skip class.
“Such findings are critical, particularly in light of the recent movement toward online learning in countries throughout the world,” Anthony said. “In a learning environment that integrates the internet, it is easy for children to move across educational and entertainment platforms during learning without alerting teachers or adults to alternate activities.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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