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Videogames Affect Your Brain

Posted by Zonk on from the learn2empathize dept.

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."

3 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. In a sad little room somewhere... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...Jack Thompson orgasms.

  2. Most Definately. by ForCripeSake · · Score: 3, Funny

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

  3. Excuse me? by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Videogames Affect Your Brain"

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

    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?