Do video games destroy brain cells?

[BrotherRool]

I think there have been studies that very intensive and frequent internet browsing lowers peoples attention spans (and changes how our brains work. Memory is very different from someone living in the Google age compared to times before). I've never personally encountered the same with games, the closest were studies that showed 'brain training' games were basically no more effective than any other type of game or puzzle solving thing.

And if they did, they'd probably destroy nothing like the amount of brain cells that booze kills off and since the entirety of Britain isn't braindead, it's probably still not a big deal


The first links that came up on a google search were suggesting games can improve brain function, but both news sources were absolutely crud (a PR press release and Fox news), so that information isn't worth anything. It also suggests that this is probably one of those areas where it's really hard to find factual sources because it makes headlines too easily

 

[SadisticFire]

It's destroying your brain cells in the exact same way doing math is destroying your brain cells.(It really is)
It isn't inherently bad, you're just losing the cells you don't use frequently, so they die off. This is just how brain matures. You have too many neurons, it makes it less efficient to run, so your brain decides to start remove some wiring so it can get directly to what it wants. Does it make you dumber? Certainly not. Is it destroying biological neurons in a scientific since? I guess, but you literally weren't using them anyways. (The actual definition of literally, screw the new one)

 

[The]

You monster... Your brain cells died for you! For your brain!

It's basically a cycle: you get stimuli, some brain cells die, some are created, new connections are made, etc. Please don't quote me as a source for science, this isn't accurate.

 

[Prince Regent]

Yesterday i was watching NCIS and in the episode Ziva said that video games lower concentration and destroy brain cells is that true or not?

Video games do not destroy brain cells Well as long as you avoid desk facing...

....or playing some Mario Kart related drinking game

Its simply not how Biology works. Something physical has to be wrong hurt them. This can be the denial of oxygen to the brain cells, denying them the ability to "feed" themselves. (Either by asphyxiation or self induced with alcohol.) Or physically hitting your head real hard or even implanting nail into your skull.
Mind you your the brain is influenced one way or another by you playing video games. But brain cells dont go about killing themselves over it. They're smarter than that.

 

[Pieturli]

The question you should be asking is, do brain cells destroy video games??!?


OPEN YOUR EYES MAN

 

[cookyy2k]

If anything it saves them. Take a choice of 3 common "leisure" activities: play computer games, go the pub or play sport and take a few knocks to the head. I'd say the computer games are going to kill less brain out of those options.

 

[omega 616]

As far as I know, the only things that can literally kill brain cells, at least at a rate that is faster than normal, are severe physical trauma and very intense drugs.

I thought the only thing that did that was neurological diseases, learn something new ...

While I do like NCIS, listening to stuff like that isn't wise.

Now, TV that destroys brain cells! Ever been watching something, then an advert/commercial comes on and about half way through them you think to yourself "what the fuck am I watching?" ... happens to me a lot, just goes to show how you switch off as you watch stuff.

 

[Asita]

...This seems very relevant right now. If you're at all familiar with the history of media in general, you'll notice that kind of claim tends to pop up any time a new medium starts to become popular.

 

[Xarathox]

Not sure if serious.jpg

No, OP. Most games are more likely to stimulate your brain, due to hand/eye coordination, puzzle solving and increasing your ability to process multiple tasks at once. Memory is also positively affected in context heavy games, allowing you to retain more information for longer periods of time.

If video games did kill brain cells, I (as well as many others) would be drooling, mindless husks awaiting the "ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL" commands.

 

[an annoyed writer]

Is this a question?

Okay, I'll give you a couple answers.

Short Answer: No.

Long answer: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Video games actually stimulate the motor cortex and improve Hand-eye coordination. It may move some cells around, but it sure as hell doesn't destroy them. The writer that wrote those episodes must've gotten kicked in the head a few too many times as a baby, by their dog no less.

 

[an annoyed writer]

The question you should be asking is, do brain cells destroy video games??!?


OPEN YOUR EYES MAN

HOLY SHIET.

Do you realize what kind of conspiracy you've opened up man? The Builderberginati Stonemasons are gonna get you man! Put on your tinfoil hats! THEY'RE READING YOUR THOUGHTS MAN!

Relevant Image:

 

[SKaREO]

Seems a bit ironic coming from the television, a.k.a. the propaganda machine, a.k.a. the flickering light source.

 

[Xarathox]

Side note: The actress who plays Ziva (Cote de Pablo) is smokin' hot.

 

[freaper]

The question you should be asking is, do brain cells destroy video games??!?


OPEN YOUR EYES MAN

HOLY SHIET.

Do you realize what kind of conspiracy you've opened up man? The Builderberginati Stonemasons are gonna get you man! Put on your tinfoil hats! THEY'RE READING YOUR THOUGHTS MAN!

Relevant Image:

I love Jon

NCIS isn't really all that bad compared to all other CSI shows. Those scenes really did make me cringe hard, though...

 

[Vausch]

The funny thing is NCIS tends to be fairly accurate when it comes to references, even video game references and often at worst makes minor mistakes. Heck, even the "high score" thing could be interpreted as an MMO with a worldwide ranking system.

On the other hand, yes that was a very stupid thing of Ziva to say and has no basis in reality. Just a question, did someone correct her and just have Ziva play the person that buys into propaganda since she still sometimes struggles with American culture?

 

[an annoyed writer]

The question you should be asking is, do brain cells destroy video games??!?


OPEN YOUR EYES MAN

HOLY SHIET.

Do you realize what kind of conspiracy you've opened up man? The Builderberginati Stonemasons are gonna get you man! Put on your tinfoil hats! THEY'RE READING YOUR THOUGHTS MAN!

Relevant Image:

I love Jon

NCIS isn't really all that bad compared to all other CSI shows. Those scenes really did make me cringe hard, though...

Agreed on all accounts. NCIS is a decent show, but that writer is a fool. Next time they do an episode that involves games in some fashion, they could at least do a little research.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

If that was true. I should have zero brain cells and not two university degrees. NCIS is ridiculous for talking crap about technology...

Video games have really improved my nephews reading ability. He has always had concentration issues at school and they seem to have help him get some stealth learning done.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Hasn't cracked absolutely ripped the shit out of TV shows/movies and their creative interpretations of technology?