Videogames Affect Your Brain

ozmm writes "A story on GameSpot explains the concept of 'mirror neurons.' When we shoot a gun, certain neurons fire in our brain. When we see someone else shoot a gun, even a video game character, the exact same neurons fire. How do virtual reactions affect our lives and thoughts? This short but sweet article touches on all of this and more." From the article: "We can tell if someone is watching a television by the way that person is facing it--even if we can't see or hear if the television is even on. It also means that we can experience the mental states associated with actions without ever having to perform those actions. In video games, in particular, it's like we're automatically empathizing with what is happening on the screen as if we were the video game characters ourselves. If you've ever had a particularly heart-palpitating race in Burnout, surely you can relate."

Comments

In a sad little room somewhere...

[Anonymous Coward]

...Jack Thompson orgasms.

Most Definately.

[ForCripeSake]

After playing Mario 64 for 11 hours I totally empathized with the headache resulting from Mario's brick breaking antics.

wow

[Wisgary]

so that's why porn is so awesome

What?

[AntiDragon]

Utter garbage! Playing Doom for 9 hours a day all of the last 12 years hasn't had any effect on me! ....Oohh, someones at my door. Sorry people - I gotta go get my chainsaw. ...Hmm...looks like I need a bigger freezer too...ho hum...

Excuse me?

[HTH NE1]

"Videogames Affect Your Brain"

Unless you're already brain dead, doesn't every stimulus affect your brain in some way?

Pac Man behaviour

[La Gris]

Will people who played pac man, enjoy dark places with blinking colors while hearing buzz music and eating pills. Oh wait...

Dammit

[rsilvergun]

so _you_ where the one with the highscore in ceiling tile tetris. I spent years trying to beat you!