SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
RSS Feed

HELP: Tutorials | FAQ
CONTACT US: Contact info

Search Results

Journal Article

Citation

Pujol J, Fenoll R, Forns J, Harrison BJ, Martínez-Vilavella G, Macià D, Alvarez-Pedrerol M, Blanco-Hinojo L, González-Ortiz S, Deus J, Sunyer J. Ann. Neurol. 2016; 80(3): 424-433.

Affiliation

IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ana.24745

PMID

27463843

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Despite extensive debate, the proposed benefits and risks of video gaming in young people remain to be empirically clarified, particularly in regards an optimal level of use.

METHODS: In 2,442 children aged 7-11 years, we have investigated relationships between weekly video game use, selected cognitive abilities and conduct-related problems. A large subgroup of these children (N=260) was further examined with MRI approximately one year later to assess the impact of video gaming on brain structure and function.

RESULTS: Playing video games for 1 hour per week was associated with faster and more consistent psychomotor responses to visual stimulation. Remarkably, no further change in motor speed was identified in children playing more than 2 hours a week. By comparison, the weekly time spent gaming was steadily associated with conduct problems, peer conflicts and reduced prosocial abilities. These negative implications were clearly visible only in children at the extreme of our game playing distribution with 9 hours or more of video gaming per week. At a neural level, changes associated with gaming were most evident in basal ganglia white matter and functional connectivity.

INTERPRETATION: Significantly better visuo-motor skills can be seen in school children playing video games, even with relatively small amounts of use. Frequent weekly use, by contrast, was associated with conduct problems. Further studies are needed to determine whether moderate video gaming causes improved visuo-motor skills and whether excessive video gaming causes conduct problems, or whether children who already have these characteristics simply play more video games. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

© 2016 American Neurological Association.


Language: en

NEW SEARCH


All SafetyLit records are available for automatic download to Zotero & Mendeley
Print