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VR Game Ties Depression To Brain Area

Posted by Zonk on from the get-out-of-my-head dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Science Daily is reporting that scientists are using a VR videogame that challenges spatial memory as a new tool to map out depression in the brain. 'Spatial memory' is how you orient yourself in space and remember how to get to places in the outside world. Researchers have found that depressed people performed poorly on the video game compared, suggesting that their hippocampi (where spatial memory is based) were not working properly."

7 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. The other way round. by biocute · · Score: 3, Funny

    Except some people got into depression after being constantly sworn at, TKed and ambushed at spawn point.

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    Virtual Betting on Facebook for non-geeks.
    1. Re:The other way round. by Eberlin · · Score: 3, Funny

      d34r pwn3d d00d,

      j00 h4v3 n0 r16h7 2 1iv3 n3m0r3 c0z u 5ux0rz. P1z b3 r37urn1n6 2 ur 5p4wn p01n7 s0 1 c4n fr4g ur 5ry 455 s0m3 m0r3. lol, 1uz3r th0u6h7 h3 w4s 1337! pwn3d!

      Now I'm not sure which is more depressing -- the dude who gets spawncamped or the fact that I just went 1337speak for a few lines. If you need me, I'll be sulking in the corner with Marvin. If I can FIND the corner. I'm SO depressed.

    2. Re:The other way round. by RobbieGee · · Score: 3, Funny

      d34r pwn3d d00d,

      j00 h4v3 n0 r16h7 2 1iv3 n3m0r3 c0z u 5ux0rz. P1z b3 r37urn1n6 2 ur 5p4wn p01n7 s0 1 c4n fr4g ur 5ry 455 s0m3 m0r3. lol, 1uz3r th0u6h7 h3 w4s 1337! pwn3d!

      Translation to english for those that do not speak "1337":

      Dear owned dude,

      You have no right to live anymore because you suck. Please return to your spawn point so I can frag your sorry ass some more. Lol, loser thougth he was leet! Owned!

      Now I'm not sure which is more depressing -- the dude who speaks leet in 2007 or the fact that I just translated that. If you need me, I'll be sulking in the corner with Eberlin. I'm SO depressed!

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      If you get this, we're 10 of a kind.
  2. Re:Anecdotal Evidence to the contrary. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The connection seems not to be borne out in reality, after all, if depression made people unable to navigate, how would emo people find their corner to cry in?

  3. yep by User+956 · · Score: 3, Funny

    'Spatial memory' is how you orient yourself in space and remember how to get to places in the outside world. Researchers have found that depressed people performed poorly

    That's because in space, nobody can hear you scream.

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    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  4. Here I am, brain the size of a planet by spun · · Score: 3, Funny

    And what do they ask me to do? Play video games... sigh.

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    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  5. Re:Anecdotal Evidence to the contrary. by JensenDied · · Score: 4, Funny

    no no, you have that all wrong, emo people get stuck in the corner, cant figure out how to get out, then start crying.

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    09:F9:11:02 - 9D:74:E3:5B - D8:41:56:C5 - 63:56:88:C0