@article{ref1,
title="Video gaming in school children- how much is enough?",
journal="Annals of neurology",
year="2016",
author="Pujol, Jesús and Fenoll, Raquel and Forns, Joan and Harrison, Ben J. and Martínez-Vilavella, Gerard and Macià, Dídac and Alvarez-Pedrerol, Mar and Blanco-Hinojo, Laura and González-Ortiz, Sofía and Deus, Joan and Sunyer, Jordi",
volume="80",
number="3",
pages="424-433",
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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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.<br><br>© 2016 American Neurological Association.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0364-5134",
doi="10.1002/ana.24745",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ana.24745"
}