Structural brain differences associated with extensive massively-multiplayer video gaming

Abstract

Video gaming can be associated with inter-individual differences in brain morphology. Much of this literature has focused on non-professional/occasional gamers who barely play, on the one extreme; or Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) cases who typically play more than 5 h/day, on the other extreme. We sought to extend this literature and focus on extensive gamers, who play about 3 h/day, which is typically more than non-professional gamers, but less than IGD cases. Findings regarding this sector of gamers can inform research on risk factors or markers for IGD development, even before addiction symptoms emerge. We predicted that extensive gamers have smaller prefrontal regions that presumably re..