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Video Games Found To Decrease Brain Activity

Richard C writes "A Japanese researcher, Akio Mori, from the Nihon University's College of Humanities and Sciences, claims to have found a link between the playing of video games and the balance of activity in the brain. It is also claimed that this effect can cause behavioural changes, such as lack of concentration, difficulty with social association, and short temper. These effects are also thought to be, to some extent, nonreversible." I was gonna say something witty and insightful here, but I can't think of anything. At least I can't make a windows machine stable enough to run Neverwinter or my brain would be toast.

12 of 694 comments (clear)

  1. Professional game testers by Jonboy+X · · Score: 5, Funny

    This doesn't bode well for professional game testers. They oughta get some kind of hazard pay for their weakening intellect.

    --

    "In a 32-bit world, you're a 2-bit user. You've got your own newsgroup, alt.total.loser." -Weird Al
  2. i agree by circletimessquare · · Score: 5, Funny

    i have spent more hours of my life playing doom and then civilization then i care to think about but... umm... what was i writing about?

    why do i even talk to you people anyway! what's the point! stop bothering me dammit! GO AWAY!

    umm... err...

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  3. What are they talking about? by Neck_of_the_Woods · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well hell I could have told you that. I play them to veg out, not deal with people, and enjoy loosing my temper at something I can take it out on. I also find that I become "SuperNeck" while I play, and the Uberness follows me into the hours after I stop playing. I was wondering why when I was running around with my grill lighter, with the flame at max screaming "MAHALITO!" people looked at me funny.

    --
    Neck_of_the_Woods
    #/usr/local/surf/glassy/overhead
  4. Obligatory priceless... by Burning1 · · Score: 5, Funny


    20 console systems and 100 games... for 'research': $9000
    3 years salary for 10 scientists: $1,800,000
    Miscellaneou research costs: $400,000
    Discovering that sitting in a lab all day playing video games just might result in social issues?

    Priceless.


    There are some things money can't buy... For everything else; there's research grants.

  5. Re:Depends. by Monkeyman334 · · Score: 4, Funny


    You must be kidding. In fact, you just reminded me of a hilarious comic strip from the far side. I thought I'd share it with the group. Hell, with thinking like that, who needs to spend the thousands I'm spending on college, I could spend $40 on a video game!

  6. Re:I see clearly now... by PacoTaco · · Score: 5, Funny
    For example, if you were attacked by a gun-wielding maniac, based on your gaming, you should run around till you find a gun bigger than his, charge him head on, and pump a round of flak into his gut, and promptly find a health pack to heal your flesh wound. Somehow, I don't think that would work too well.

    You're not from America, are you?

  7. Re:but what about the tube? by MBCook · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think a Simpsons quote would be appropriate here:

    "Damn TV. It's ruined my ability to remember what I'm just like it's..... uh.....(turn on TV to Itchy and Scratchy)... Ha ha ha ha ha"!

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  8. Re:but what about the tube? by PacoTaco · · Score: 5, Funny

    Tis studie is totel BS. Prety soone thay'll sey thet reeding Slahdot causis pour speling.

  9. Re:Has it occured to anyone... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    As an aside, before everyone shouts "it's a correlational study blah blah" it's worth pointing out that this study combines a within-subjects experimental manipulation (compares brain activity at rest to activity during gaming) with a correlational variable (compares the effect of the experimental manipulation between gamers and non-gamers). The experimental effect of gaming is strongest in people who game regularly, but it's there for everybody except people who never game.

    Words to big. Me play quake now.

  10. Re:Depends. by Isldeur · · Score: 4, Funny


    Since you've master those problems, here are some slightly more difficult problems for you to tackle:

    2) Get laid. Get so good at it that you can walk into any social situation and walk out with someone you just met.

    3) Find a person who perfectly compliments your own strengths and faults, marry them, create a strong and lasting marriage, have kids, and raise them to be excellent people.

    you get the idea...
    I find these games to be much more challenging and rewarding than most video games.


    You mean like The Sims? I *Love* that game! :)

  11. Re:Duhhhh... by matrix29 · · Score: 5, Funny

    And masturbation making you go blind, life at 60 will really bite the big one.

    The lesson is point it away from your eyes when it shoots.

    --
    "Face it, a nation that maintains a 72% approval rating on George W. Bush is a nation with a very loose grip on reality.
  12. Re:Has it occured to anyone... by rcw-home · · Score: 4, Funny
    Words to big. Me play quake now.

    Hey, it really happens:

    <bfinn> THE QUACK IS GAME TO PLAY TO KILL OF PEOPLE TO GUN