Differential Neural Recruitment during Violent Video Game Play in Violent- and Nonviolent- Game Players

A controversy exists about the effects of violent video game play, with some studies showing “positive” effects on spatial attention, others showing “negative” effects on aggression, and others suggesting that there are no important effects. The present study examined neural recruitment during violent videogame play among 13 late adolescent gamers, half of whom habitually played violent games and half of whom habitually played nonviolent games. Participants played a video game in violent and non-violent modes while undergoing fMRI scanning. Nonviolent gamers had an increase in emotional response regions when playing the violent game; violent gamers demonstrated an active suppression of these same regions. In addition, nonviolent gamers showed increases in spatial attention, navigation, and cognitive control regions, whereas experienced violent gamers showed no change from baseline. These results provide neurological support for both aggression desensitization and improvements in spatial attention, but not for the hypothesis that violent games have no appreciable effect. Differential Neural Recruitment during Violent Video Game Play in Violentand NonviolentGame