Excessive video gaming has a number of psychological and social consequences. In this study, we looked at possible changes in gray and white matter and asked whether these changes are correlated to psychological measures. Twentynine players of violent videogames (mean daily playing time 4.7 h) and age matched controls were subjected to a battery of questionnaires assessing aggression, empathy, hostility, internet addiction and psychological well-being. Diffusion tensor and 3D T1-weighted MR images were obtained to examine gray (via voxel-based morphometry) and white (via tract-based spatial statistics) matter changes. Widespread regions of decreased gray matter in the players were found but no region showed increased intensity of gray matter. Density of gray matter showed a negative correlation with the total length of playing in years in the right posterior cingulate gyrus, left pre- and postcentral gyrus, right thalamus, among others. Furthermore, fractional anisotropy, a marker for white matter structure, was decreased in the left and right cingulum in the players. Both, gray and white matter changes correlated with measures of aggression, hostility, self esteem, and the degree of internet addiction. This study thus shows profound changes of brain structure as a function of excessive playing of violent video games.

中文翻译：

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沉迷于视频游戏的年轻男性的大脑结构发生变化。

过度的视频游戏会带来许多心理和社会后果。在这项研究中，我们研究了灰色和白色物质的可能变化，并询问这些变化是否与心理测量有关。20岁的暴力视频游戏玩家（平均每天玩游戏时间4.7小时）和年龄匹配的对照组接受了一系列问卷调查，评估了他们的侵略性，同情心，敌意，网络成瘾和心理健康状况。获得扩散张量和3D T1加权MR图像，以检查灰色（通过基于体素的形态学）和白色（通过基于区域的空间统计）的物质变化。发现参与者中灰质减少的广泛区域，但没有区域显示灰质强度增加。灰质密度与右后扣带回，中央前和后中央回，右丘脑等的总演奏时间呈负相关。此外，分数各向异性（白质结构的标志）在球员的左侧和右侧扣带减少。灰色和白色物质的变化均与攻击性，敌意，自尊和网络成瘾程度相关。因此，这项研究表明，过度玩暴力视频游戏会导致大脑结构发生深刻变化。灰色和白色物质的变化与攻击性，敌意，自尊和网络成瘾程度相关。因此，这项研究表明，过度玩暴力视频游戏会导致大脑结构发生深刻变化。灰色和白色物质的变化与攻击性，敌意，自尊和网络成瘾程度相关。因此，这项研究表明，过度玩暴力视频游戏会导致大脑结构发生深刻变化。