Gaming Addiction: A New Insight into Teen Brain Health
Introduction to Gaming Addiction Concerns
Video gaming is a popular activity among adolescents, but for some, it can develop into an unhealthy addiction. One of the biggest concerns for parents is how to manage screen time and gaming and recognise when it becomes problematic. John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, and coauthor of the the study, discusses the growing concern over gaming addiction and offers insights from a new study that sheds light on brain activity in teens prone to addiction.
Research Overview: A Longitudinal Study on Gaming and Brain Activity
In a study published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions, researchers examined data from 6,143 video game users aged 10 to 15 over four years.
- During the first year, participants underwent brain scans using functional MRI (fMRI) while performing a task that involved pressing a button to earn a $5 reward.
- Over the following three years, the same participants completed Video Game Addiction Questionnaires.
The findings revealed that teens showing more symptoms of gaming addiction exhibited lower brain activity in regions responsible for decision-making and reward processing, which was measured during the initial brain scan. This suggests that those with a reduced response to rewards, especially non-gaming rewards, may be more susceptible to developing gaming addiction.
Key Findings: Brain Activity and Gaming Addiction
Daniel Lopez, PhD, the study’s first author and postdoctoral fellow at the Developmental Brain Imaging Lab at Oregon Health & Science University, emphasises that gaming itself is not inherently harmful. However, there is a clear distinction between healthy gaming and gaming addiction. The study highlights that some individuals are more vulnerable to developing addiction symptoms than others.
Lopez explains that while it may be tempting for parents to completely restrict gaming, such an approach could negatively impact their child’s social and developmental growth.
The study’s findings provide valuable insights into identifying potential markers in the brain that can help determine which teens are at risk of unhealthy gaming behaviours.
The Role of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study
The data for this research comes from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a long-term project launched in 2015.
- The ABCD Study tracks 11,878 children from pre-adolescence to adulthood, creating baseline standards for brain development.
- This open-source study allows researchers to explore various aspects of development in adolescents
- Social
- Emotional
- Cognitive
- PhysicalÂ
The University of Rochester joined the study in 2017, contributing data from nearly 340 participants. Ed Freedman, PhD, professor of Neuroscience at the University, co-principal investigator of the study, and leader of the recent gaming research, highlights how this large dataset is transforming our understanding of adolescent brain health.
Transforming Recommendations for Adolescent Development
Freedman explains that the insights gained from the ABCD Study are reshaping recommendations for various aspects of adolescent development, including sleep patterns, screen time, and now, gaming addiction.
The identification of specific brain regions associated with gaming addiction provides a critical step forward in understanding how to mitigate risks. By identifying at-risk teens early, researchers hope to develop strategies to help
- Prevent unhealthy gaming behavioursÂ
- Offer more targeted recommendations for screen time and other developmental factors
Source:
- Inputs from various media Sources
- Daniel A. Lopez, John J. Foxe, Edwin van Wijngaarden, Wesley K. Thompson, Edward G. Freedman. The longitudinal association between reward processing and symptoms of video game addiction in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 2024; DOI: 10.1556/2006.2024.00068Â
