Striatal Volume Predicts Level of Video Game SkillAcquisition
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, Florida State
University, University of Illinois, and MIT's Brain and
Cognitive Sciences & McGovern Institute for Brain Research, have
published an article discussing individual differences in
performance and learning in folks who play video games. They
specifically studied the brains memory and learning centers
(striatum and hippocampus). They found that there were
diffeneces in the striatum (learning centers). At this stage of
research, the authors can only show a correlation- but it is
exciting non-the-less! Some take home messages from the article
are 1) variable learning was associated with higher overall
performance 2) Ventral striatal volumes were predictive of early
stage learning- highlighting the importance of limbic circuits
related to the striatal region in reinforcement-related
processes. This region contributes to motivational and affective
processing (reward and motivation) (in other words