For the first time, researchers have shown brains-size linked to a real-world skill.
Gah! The last thing the world needs is another thing allowing gamers to brag about "pwning." But science--and not just energy drinks and Cheetos--stands behind this one: Researchers at MIT have shown the better performance in video games is linked to having a bigger brain.
Specifically, the better a person is at video games, the bigger their striatum tends to be. That portion of the brain is nestled inside the cerebral cortex--the lobe responsible for higher brain functions. And the study adds ballast to the hypothesis that the striatum is linked to how well a person is able to refine their motor skills, learn new skills, and invent useful strategies for a changing environment.
According to Kirk Erickson, a professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh and lead author on the study, this is the first...
Gah! The last thing the world needs is another thing allowing gamers to brag about "pwning." But science--and not just energy drinks and Cheetos--stands behind this one: Researchers at MIT have shown the better performance in video games is linked to having a bigger brain.
Specifically, the better a person is at video games, the bigger their striatum tends to be. That portion of the brain is nestled inside the cerebral cortex--the lobe responsible for higher brain functions. And the study adds ballast to the hypothesis that the striatum is linked to how well a person is able to refine their motor skills, learn new skills, and invent useful strategies for a changing environment.
According to Kirk Erickson, a professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh and lead author on the study, this is the first...
- 1/21/2010
- by Cliff Kuang
- Fast Company
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