Violent Video Game Play: What Neuroimaging Tells Us

So what can we take away from these research findings?

• First, several studies show that violent media exposure and violent video game play produce different patterns of brain activity compared to nonviolent media exposure or nonviolent video game play.
• The regions of the brain that have shown differences in activation during and after violent game play (for example, regions in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala) are thought to be associated with emotion, self-control, and aggression. It is important to note that these regions have also been associated with other functions as well.
• The neuroimaging findings of violent video game play are consistent with studies of the behavioral and social effects of violent video games. However, researchers are still working to establish a clear connection between neuroimaging results and real-world behaviors following violent video game play.
• The experimental neuroimaging studies that have been done so far have looked only at the short-term effects (several minutes to about an hour) of violent video game play. Studies are currently under way to test the long-term effects of violent video game play on brain functioning.
• There has been less neuroimaging research conducted on investigating the effects of nonviolent games, learning games, multiplayer role games, and prosocial (helpfulness) games. Several groups (including our research group) are investigating the effects of these other kinds of games, including effects that might be helpful for child and adolescent development.

References

Anderson, C.A., Berkowitz, L., Donnerstein, E., Huesmann, L.R., Johnson, J.D., Linz, D., Malamuth, N.M., & Wartella, E. (2003). The influence of media violence on youth. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 4, 81-110.

Mathews, V.P., Kronenberger, W.G.., Wang, Y., Lurito, J.T., Lowe, M.J., & Dunn, D.W. (2005). Media violence exposure and frontal lobe activation measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging in aggressive and nonaggressive adolescents. Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography, 29, 287-292.

Wang, Y., Mathews, V.P., Kalnin, A.J., Mosier, K.M., Dunn, D.W., Saykin, A.J., & Kronenberger, W.G. (2009). Short term exposure to a violent video game induces changes in frontolimbic circuitry in adolescents. Brain Imaging and Behavior, 3, 38-50.

Weber, R., Ritterfeld, U., & Mathiak, K. (2006). Does playing violent video games induce aggression? Empirical evidence of a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Media Psychology, 8, 39-60.