Long-lasting connectivity changes induced by intensive first-person shooter gaming

Brain plasticity associated with prolonged shooting training: a multimodal neuroimaging investigation from a cross-sectional study

Background

Although training has been recognized as a potential contributor to neuroplasticity in athletes, the impact of prolonged shooting training on human brain plasticity remains unclear in the existing literature.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we used a multimodal neuroimaging analysis, including the analysis of functional blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images, structural T1-weighted MRI images, and diffusion MRI images, to systematically identify differences between elite shooters and normal controls.

Results

The results showed that compared to male normal controls, male elite shooters had higher regional homogeneity (ReHo) in the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, precuneus, thalamus, and cingulate gyrus, as well as higher functional connectivity between the medial frontal cortex (MedFC) and temporooccipital middle temporal gyrus (toMTG). Male elite shooters also showed higher cortical thickness in the right inferior temporal lobe; lower fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFF), and right anterior thalamic radiation (ATR); lower axial diffusivity (AD) value in forceps minor and left ATR; and lower structural connectivity between right putamen and right inferior parietal cortex (IPC), right IPC and right paracentral cortex, and right paracentral cortex and right superior parietal cortex (SPC).

Conclusion

Elite male shooters exhibited optimized resting-state functional activity, functional connectivity, and morphological features compared to normal controls. Prolonged shooting training may contribute to enhancing the brain's functional and structural plasticity related to motor control, attentional focus, and emotion regulation in male shooters; however, similar changes have not been observed in female shooters.

Co-activation patterns during viewing of different video game genres

Past research has revealed cognitive improvements resulting from engagement with both traditional action video games and newer action-like video games, such as action real-time strategy games (ARSG). However, the cortical dynamics elicited by different video gaming genres remain unclear. This study explored the temporal dynamics of cortical networks in response to different gaming genres. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were obtained during eye-closed resting and passive viewing of gameplay videos of three genres: life simulation games (LSG), first-person shooter games (FPS), and ARSG. Data analysis used a seed-free Co-Activation Pattern (CAP) based on Regions of Interest (ROIs). When comparing the viewing of action-like video games (FPS and ARSG) to LSG viewing, significant dynamic distinctions were observed in both primary and higher-order networks. Within action-like video games, compared to FPS viewing, ARSG viewing elicited a more pronounced increase in the Fraction of Time and Counts of attentional control-related CAPs, along with an increased Transition Probability from sensorimotor-related CAPs to attentional control-related CAPs. Compared to ARSG viewing, FPS viewing elicited a significant increase in the Fraction of Time of sensorimotor-related CAPs, when gaming experience was considered as a covariate. Thus, different video gaming genres, including distinct action-like video gaming genres, elicited unique dynamic patterns in whole-brain CAPs, potentially influencing the development of various cognitive processes.

A design for life: Predicting cognitive performance from lifestyle choices

Maintaining cognitive capacity through adulthood has been the target of many recent studies that have examined the influence of lifestyle choices such as exercise, diet, and sleeping habits. Many of these studies have focused on a single factor (e.g., diet) and its effect on cognitive abilities; however, humans make numerous lifestyle choices every single day, many of which interact and influence each other. Here, we investigated whether combinations of lifestyle choices can predict better or worse cognitive performance in the general population, and whether optimal combinations of choices existed depending on the cognitive domain. Specifically, we examined 20 self-reported lifestyle choices, such as playing video games, drinking alcohol, and amount of exercise taken, in a sample of almost 10,000 participants. All participants also completed 12 cognitive tests that have been shown to generate three composite cognitive domain scores pertaining to short-term memory, verbal abilities, and reasoning. Using recursive feature elimination and random forest regression, we were able to explain 9% of the variance in short-term memory scores, 8% of the variance in reasoning scores, and 7% of the variance in verbal ability scores. While the regression model provided predictive power in all three domains, these levels indicate that even when considering a large number of lifestyle choices, there remains a considerable degree of variability in predicting short-term memory, reasoning and verbal abilities. Thus, while some modifiable lifestyle factors may have an impact on cognitive capacity, there likely exists no single optimal design for life.

High-skilled first-person shooting game players have specific frontal lobe activity: Power spectrum analysis in an electroencephalogram study

First-person shooting (FPS) games are among the most famous video games worldwide. However, cortical activities in environments related to real FPS games have not been studied. This study aimed to determine differences in cortical activity between low- and high-skilled FPS game players using 160-channel electroencephalography. Nine high-skilled FPS game players (official ranks: above the top 10%) and eight low-skilled FPS game players (official ranks: lower than the top 20%) were recruited for the experiment. The task was set for five different conditions using the AimLab program, which was used for the FPS game players' training. Additionally, we recorded the brain activity in the resting condition before and after the task, in which the participants closed their eyes and relaxed. The reaction time and accuracy (the number of hit-and-miss targets) were calculated to evaluate the task performance. The results showed that high-skilled FPS game players have fast reaction times and high accuracy during tasks. High-skilled FPS game players had higher cortical activity in the frontal cortex than low-skilled FPS game players during each task. In low-skilled players, cortical activity level and performance level were associated. These results suggest that high cortical activity levels were critical to achieving high performance in FPS games.

Computer gaming alters resting-state brain networks, enhancing cognitive and fluid intelligence in players: evidence from brain imaging-derived phenotypes-wide Mendelian randomization

The debate on whether computer gaming enhances players' cognitive function is an ongoing and contentious issue. Aiming to delve into the potential impacts of computer gaming on the players' cognitive function, we embarked on a brain imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs)-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) study, utilizing publicly available data from a European population. Our findings indicate that computer gaming has a positive impact on fluid intelligence (odds ratio [OR] = 6.264, P = 4.361 × 10-10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.520-11.147) and cognitive function (OR = 3.322, P = 0.002, 95% CI 1.563-7.062). Out of the 3062 brain IDPs analyzed, only one phenotype, IDP NET100 0378, was significantly influenced by computer gaming (OR = 4.697, P = 1.10 × 10-5, 95% CI 2.357-9.361). Further MR analysis suggested that alterations in the IDP NET100 0378 caused by computer gaming may be a potential factor affecting fluid intelligence (OR = 1.076, P = 0.041, 95% CI 1.003-1.153). Our MR study lends support to the notion that computer gaming can facilitate the development of players' fluid intelligence by enhancing the connectivity between the motor cortex in the resting-state brain and key regions such as the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the language center.

The Benefits of Video Games on Brain Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies

Benefits of video games on cognitive function have been proved by increasing evidence. However, reasons for game-induced changes in cognitive function are still elusive. Therefore, this study conducted a systematic review of brain function activation changes in association with video games. We retrieved publications from three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo), with publication dates before 8 February 2021. After screening the study with fMRI data, 13 studies were included in this work, including 9 cross-sectional studies and 4 types of research. In this review, we summarized the potential benefits of video games on cognitive function and discussed the effects of different types of video games on cognitive function. In particular, we highlighted the effect of video games on attention ability and visuospatial ability and addressed the functional brain activation changes in frontal and parietal lobes and other related brain regions induced by games. Finally, we pointed out that when discussing the effect of video games on brain function, types of video games should be carefully categorized.