Playing video games has been linked with increases in the thickness of some parts of the brain.
A study published in PLOS One reports that "a robust
positive association" exists between the amounts of time teens
reported spending on video games each week and the thickness of the
left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and left frontal eye
The DLPFC is associated with the management of processes like
working memory and planning, while the FEF deal with visual
attention and voluntary eye movement -- both extensively involved
when playing games. Cortical thickness may be related to the
numbers of complex connections in those regions of the brain.
The association between the amounts someone plays and the
thickness of the DLPFC and the FEF does not establish cause and
effect but the researchers add that behavioural evidence from other
studies suggests video games might be the cause.
In one such study participants were shown to be more efficient
at using sensory evidence if they played action games. Those who
did not habitually play games achieved similar results after they
were given 50 hours of action game training.
Suggestions for future research include examining whether
particular genres of video game are associated with particular
changes in the brain or perceptual decision-making success.