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Correlation Found Between Brain Structure and Video Game Success

Posted by Soulskill on from the correlation-does-not-equal-yadda-yadda dept.

kghapa writes "Still want to argue that video games shrink your brain? While video games have been previously shown to stimulate brain activity and improve coordination skills, a recently published study has directly linked structures in the human brain with video game aptitude. And yes, apparently size does matter in this case. Quoting: '... each subject received 20 hours of training to play a video game specifically created for research purposes, called Space Fortress. It's basically an Asteroids-type arcade game, in which the object is to knock down and destroy an enemy fortress while dodging space mines. However, the game has lots of extra twists that require close attention. Some of the players were told to focus exclusively on running up a high score, while others were told to shift their priorities between several goals. The result? The subjects who had more volume in an area called the nucleus accumbens did significantly better in the early stages of training. Meanwhile, those who were well-endowed in different areas of the striatum, known as the caudate nucleus and putamen, handled the shifting strategies better.'"

7 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. More developed specialized area of the brain... by sznupi · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...contributing to statistically greater success in tasks which might benefit from its function.

    News at 11.

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    One that hath name thou can not otter
    1. Re:More developed specialized area of the brain... by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yes but knowing which specialised area does what is why this is so interesting, there's vast portions of the brain that we can look at and say "Basically responsible for this general area" and have to leave it at that. To be able to point right at a relatively small chunk and say "This does THAT" is a pretty big deal.

      --
      A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
    2. Re:More developed specialized area of the brain... by imakemusic · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Except that the 10% thing is a fallacy. As I understand it (IANAN), you only use 10% of your brain at any one time. Which makes sense. I mean, when I'm trying to get out of the way of a car - I want to be recalling how to run - I don't want to be recalling the cake I had at my 5th birthday party.

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      Brain surgery - it's not rocket science!
    3. Re:More developed specialized area of the brain... by Ceriel+Nosforit · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's not a fallacy. It's a plain falsehood.

      Arguably fallacy is a really nice word to use, but it's still not appropriate in this case.

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      All rites reversed 2010
    4. Re:More developed specialized area of the brain... by MrTree · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Not quite - it's a complete fallacy:

      http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/10percent.asp

  2. Re:Correlation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'm waiting for a correlation between those who 'get laid' with the implication that that means "sex is all I care about" to those who actually have dynamic lives above the reptilian brain stem...

  3. Re:So, theiy're saying -- by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Yes, that sounds good in theory. But, wait til YOU find that you have a pre-existing condition. DNA profiling promises to give the insurance companies plenty of ammunition in that field.

    So you're saying I should be able to make others pay for my health care?

    You know, I really don't understand this attitude when dealing with insurance. The whole point of insurance is to "insure" yourself against unexpected costs by having others pay for it if you happen to be the one that gets dealt the bad hand. If everyone is just going to pay for what they need, there really isn't much point in having insurance at all is there?