Study notes lower blood flow to brain while playing videogames

Chalk up another example of journalism by press release concerning a videogame study. The study was released by Chou Yuan-hua (周元華), in the Department of Psychiatry at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. Studying 30 men, all aged 25 years, lower blood circulation to the head was measured a half hour after playing videogames, with results particularly notable following violent games.

On the surface, the study seems reminiscent of Haier’s work observing lower glucose levels in the brains of Tetris players. However, details of the study have prompted derision and scoffing among gaming aficionados.

Without reading the study, I would speculate blood flow was chosen as an easy to measure marker. It’s hard to say what significance, sociologically or physiologically, can be attributed to the observations, especially since comparisons to blood flow when subjects watched television or engaged in reading were apparently not offered. Negative connotations against videogames would be greatly reduced if questions were asked and answered such as: Does blood flow decrease when any other medium is engaged? Are the results simply a function of amusement? (Note that the word “amuse” literally means to stop thinking. Hmm.) Time will tell, along with a few replicated results in separate additional studies.

References:
Tapei Times. (2007, December 27). Videogames reduce blood flow to the brain: Study. [Online]. Retrieved December 27, 2007 from: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/
2007/12/27/2003394285

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