@article{ref1,
title="Violent video games and the P300: no evidence to support the neural desensitization hypothesis",
journal="Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking",
year="2021",
author="Carter, Pelham and Pearson, Sarah L. and Turner, Kirstie J. and Goodson, Simon",
volume="24",
number="1",
pages="48-55",
abstract="It has been proposed that exposure to violent video games (VVGs) resulted in alterations of social behaviors such as increased aggression. The most damaging  reported effect of playing VVGs is neural desensitization to violent stimuli and  this is a major concern given the reported number of players and time spent playing  major video game titles. The aim of this study was to investigate the existence of  neural desensitization that was reported at the P300 component of event-related  potentials (ERPs) in response to violent stimuli. Eighty-seven participants were  recruited and placed into one of two conditions based on their video gaming behavior  (violent games players and nonplayers). ERPs were recorded from participants who  passively viewed violent and neutral images selected from the International  Affective Picture System (IAPS). The participants then played a VVG, postplaying  ERPs were recorded while viewing the neutral and violent IAPS images. The mean  amplitudes of the P300 were analyzed with respect to condition, time, and content. There was a significant effect of image but not of VVG player and nonplayer. The  results were interpreted as evidence against the neural desensitization hypothesis. The findings of this study are consistent with imaging research and the implications  for the reported negative effects of playing VVGs are discussed.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2152-2715",
doi="10.1089/cyber.2020.0029",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2020.0029"
}