Does Playing Video Games Really Change Your Brain?

Video games have evolved from a childhood activity to a pastime for adults. These games are becoming more common and enjoyed in old age, outselling music and film. Now, a studypublished in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found playing video games can shape the brain -- for better or for worse. "We focused on how the brain reacts to video game exposure, but these effects do not always translate to real-life changes," said Marc Palaus, first author of the study, in a statement. Researchers from Open University of Catalonia in Spain and Massachusetts General Hospital noted gamers experience a change in brain activity, and even structure.