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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."

7 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. Could an octopus play WoW? by SIGALRM · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The science behind mirror neuron study is advancing an understanding of how humans and animals learn complex tasks. Ramachandran talks about the intelligence of the octopus in learning to open jars from watching another. The mirror neuron firing is intense and highly measurable in this species.

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    Sigs cause cancer.
  2. Brainwaves by steveo777 · · Score: 3, Interesting
    A long time ago, I read about a study that showed brainwave patterns for watching normal TV (non-interactive, like soap operas and commercials) was the same as staring at a fire. These brainwaves were pretty close to that of time periods of sleep when the brain is only running the body on survival. The only difference was when something on the TV was thought-provocing.

    At least when we fire a gun in a video game we have some thought pattern. I'd like to see this study done on people grinding levels in WoW or another MMORPG. I know my brain isn't waving when I'm grinding. Kill... grab stuff... skin... grab stuff... heal... kill.. ...

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  3. Re:Ummm... by dasheiff · · Score: 2, Interesting

    More importainly, should it be illegal to watch someone shoot a gun in real life?

  4. Re:Liberals? by RingDev · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Keep your eyes open. Today yes, the very conservative republican party is still in charge. But they are expected to lose a lot of seats in the 2k6 elections. And given her most recent posturing, Mrs. Clinton could be setting herself up for a run for president in 2k8.

    I'm not claiming to be for or against either side. But theoretically atleast, a political conservative (not a moral conservative) would be against the introduction of new censorship laws. What I'm most affraid of is morally conservative liberals. People who have very set morals and no problem trying to legislate other people to be like them.

    -Rick

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    "Most people in the U.S. wouldn't know they live in a tyrannical state if it walked up and grabbed their junk." - MyFirs
  5. Re:Liberals? by fshalor · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Bush Clinton Clinton Bush Bush Clinton Clinton...

    Hehe... It would be a good span. At least easy to remember.

    I can definatly agree at least in "feeling". Saw a cop shoot at a woman who was trying to run him down with her car the other day. I kept thinking through what I would have done if I'd had my 9mm ruger with me that afternoon. Although, I must say, that I think I wouldn't have missed as badly as he did. :(

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    -=fshalor ::this post not spellchecked. move along::
  6. It's more than just neurons firing by TubeSteak · · Score: 2, Interesting

    While they talk about mirror neurons and super mirror neurons, it's telling that they use "a particularly heart-palpitating race in Burnout" as their example.

    What's going on in Burnout isn't just neurons firing, you've also got hormones pumping.

    Hormones are the reason that simulators are only so effective. When I skid out on ice during a driving game, I don't panic and think "Oh SHIT! I'm gonna die." In real life, even if I don't get hit with a flood of chemicals at the moment I fucked up, afterwards, my body & brain will practically be awash with them.

    Simulations & games don't have real consequences and for the most part, your brain and body knows the difference.

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  7. My slug of a cow-orker manages it by Mille+Mots · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Seriously...I've been here two point five years and this guy has been on every diet to make the tabloid rack at the supermarket. He keeps gaining weight, though. I tried to explain to him that, first and foremost, if your caloric intake exceeds your caloric expenditure in a given period, you aren't ever going to lose weight, regardless of your choice of foods. He doesn't believe me, or anyone else that tries to explain it to him. "The book said I can eat all the meat I want!"

    That being said, he used to eat, sleep and breathe Evercrack. Now he eats, sleeps and breathes WoW. He takes (what we mockingly refer to as) guild calls at ork. He spends most of his day posting on WoW message boards. He shows up late every morning because he doesn't go to bed until two hours before he has to be here. He goes home at lunch every day and comes back a minimum of fifteen minutes late, because he doesn't eat his lunch at home, he logs in and 'games' (and brings his lunch back here to eat at his desk). Oh, and he leaves early to make up for coming in late.

    So, to answer your question...if a slug can figure it out, why not a higher lifeform like an octopus?

    ;)

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