New research suggests that people who play video games to excess exhibit traits similar to those of drug users.
Show a smoker a lighter, and he or she will get the urge for a cigarette. The same physiological responses that trigger a smoker's craving may also be at work in the brains of people who spend a lot of time playing video games, researchers say. And that could add more fuel to the long and heated argument over whether video games are hazardously addictive.
In new research presented Monday at the Society for Neurosciences meeting in Washington, DC, neuroscientist Sabine Grusser-Sinopoli of the Charite-University Medicine in Berlin showed pictures of video games to a group of men who displayed signs of gaming to excess, such as neglecting work or school for gaming. Using electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain activity, Grusser-Sinopoli found that gamers respond to game-related pictures much as gamblers respond to the sight of cards or heroin addicts to the sight of needles. The findings are evidence of the addictive potential of video games, Grusser-Sinopoli says.
In fact, evidence for and against that conclusion has been building for more than a decade. Addiction experts say that almost any exciting activity can develop into a compulsion that disrupts daily activities, such as work, school, sleep, or time spent with the family.
But whether society should treat immersion in video games as a risk tantamount to abusing drugs and alcohol is hotly debated.
Grusser-Sinopoli's own work is built around the idea that many of the most long-lasting effects of drug addiction are the result of learned responses, rather than the drugs' direct chemical effects. Addicts learn to associate neutral cues, such as the street where they used to buy heroin, with the physical response caused by the drug. Such a link remains years after a user has overcome a physical dependence on a drug -- and can easily trigger a relapse.
Grusser-Sinopoli and colleagues study responses to these cues in both drug addicts and people with behavioral compulsions, such as gambling, with the hope of creating better treatments. She began studying video games after getting inquiries from parents whose children spent entire weekends game-playing.
In previous research, Grusser-Sinopoli has shown that heroin addicts, alcoholics, and compulsive gamblers respond to addiction-related cues much like they do to strongly emotional stimuli, such as prurient pictures, and that they consider the cues to be pleasurable. But drug- or gambling-related cues induce a neutral response in non-addicts.
"You see the cue and feel a craving," says Grusser-Sinopoli. "It's not always conscious, but the physiological system is reacting." She says the same link may develop in excessive gamers.
Other experts are more cautious about comparing the enticing qualities of gaming to the addictive potential of drugs. "Gaming is not a drug. It's an activity like working out," says Kurt Squire, an education researcher at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
"Games are compelling, people get very wrapped up," Squire adds. "But it rarely gets to the point where you would actually want to compare that response to a drug."
Guest (Andrew)
So then is every form of pleasure we have is a drug. People just try to explain a way what they llike to do as not an addiction but a fun thing to do. It is fun. If you ask a football player what he thinks of when holding a football, he will say playing football. He will then try to play with other people. Its like drug addicts. They like drugs and then when shown or talk about them they want them. This is just another bull s##t reason to try and say games are bad. If its true, then so are sports, tv, theater, and afterschool activities. If there is something to do, then it will become an addiction to somebody because it is enjoyment to them. So dont go saying that video games are addicting like drugs when everything else in the world is the same or worse.
Guest (JE)
this article is total bologna. why do people care anyways? it may be true that gamers get addicted but an addiction to video games is much much better than an addiction to other things. plus, true gamers will steer clear of any mind-altering drugs because it will impede their ability to game, so not only is gaming not detremental, i would argue its good for people.
Guest (JE)
this article is total bologna. why do people care anyways? it may be true that gamers get addicted but an addiction to video games is much much better than an addiction to other things. plus, true gamers will steer clear of any mind-altering drugs because it will impede their ability to game, so not only is gaming not detremental, i would argue its good for people.
Guest (Laurel)
There may be a pleasure response to photos, but its not the same...will gamers run their families into debt and steal from their friends to buy illegal games? Will they buy insurance on their relatives and have them killed for the money so that they can buy games like addicted gamblers have done? People will stay home from work and school to watch movies, also. It probably says more about their jobs or their schools than anything else.
Guest (sly)
The short answer is that anything done to excess is bad. If I drink to much water I can kill myself. The information is good to know and I am glad that someone is looking at it.
Guest (H DEEZ)
I agree with the topic on addiction for the gamers. For example in class, Nate is always playing games. Even though Greer and I arent gamers I am always on facebook and Greer is always on ebaums. If the computers were not infront of us in class then we would not have the urge to do so. I disagree with Kurt Squire when saying: "Gaming is not a drug. Its an activity like working out," because Nate is a gamer and if it were to be like working out then maybe he wouldnt have a boot on his ankle in result of when he actually does work out.
Guest (Kaleil (Govworks))
I dont necessarily think that since people are gamers then they are drug addicts. I think that the games are their drugs. Its ok to admit it, everyone has a bad habit. I personally think that gaming is ok in moderation just like drugs! Just kidding about drugs, drugs are BAD! If games are played during your quality time with your family then you are a serious GAMER! and you need Help!
<3 Kaleil
Guest (Kaleil (Govworks))
I dont necessarily think that since people are gamers then they are drug addicts. I think that the games are their drugs. Its ok to admit it, everyone has a bad habit. I personally think that gaming is ok in moderation just like drugs! Just kidding about drugs, drugs are BAD! If games are played during your quality time with your family then you are a serious GAMER! and you need Help!
<3 Kaleil
Guest (Lizzie)
Hi, Can anyone tell me if a child is on a computer playing games for hours on end have very large pupils. My son is 13yrs, his school thinks it could be drug related. He doesnt go out so the problem would be at school.
Would be grateful for ant answers.
From, a worried Mum
Guest (ravensfh)
Hi im addicted to online gaming but no i wont have to steal and kill to pay for my mmos! they costs not lots they are so bloody cheap
Guest (sly)
The short answer is that anything done to excess is bad. If I drink to much water I can kill myself. The information is good to know and I am glad that someone is looking at it.
Guest (H DEEZ)
I agree with the topic on addiction for the gamers. For example in class, Nate is always playing games. Even though Greer and I arent gamers I am always on facebook and Greer is always on ebaums. If the computers were not infront of us in class then we would not have the urge to do so. I disagree with Kurt Squire when saying: "Gaming is not a drug. Its an activity like working out," because Nate is a gamer and if it were to be like working out then maybe he wouldnt have a boot on his ankle in result of when he actually does work out.
Guest (Kaleil (Govworks))
I dont necessarily think that since people are gamers then they are drug addicts. I think that the games are their drugs. Its ok to admit it, everyone has a bad habit. I personally think that gaming is ok in moderation just like drugs! Just kidding about drugs, drugs are BAD! If games are played during your quality time with your family then you are a serious GAMER! and you need Help!
<3 Kaleil
Guest (Lizzie)
Hi, Can anyone tell me if a child is on a computer playing games for hours on end have very large pupils. My son is 13yrs, his school thinks it could be drug related. He doesnt go out so the problem would be at school.
Would be grateful for ant answers.
From, a worried Mum
Guest (ravensfh)
Hi im addicted to online gaming but no i wont have to steal and kill to pay for my mmos! they costs not lots they are so bloody cheap
Guest (aninity 101)
games are for you and me. it is our right as americans to play as long and hard as we want. Many a nights i have tried to hack into the depths of gaming to find more fun and challenging ways to play. HACKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE
Guest (zeroCool)
Hey "aninity 101" you wanna learn how to spell? by the way its HACK THE PLANET!
Guest (Acid Burn)
What ever your probably some noob Junior that stays home alone on weekends and looks at hunting magazines. :o noob!
Guest (zeroCool)
Hey "aninity 101" you wanna learn how to spell? by the way its HACK THE PLANET!
Guest (Acid Burn)
What ever your probably some noob Junior that stays home alone on weekends and looks at hunting magazines. :o noob!
Guest (Anonymity)
all yal gamers are FREAKSSSSSSSSSSS all yal 30 year olds that still live at home wit daya momas playin late at night need to grow up. yo peace out...
Guest (Anonymity)
Guest (Kaerf)
Im a gamer...when I can be.
Im 36, own a million dollar home and work in venture capital as a manager of information technology.
Live at home with mom? You need to update your prejudices.
Guest (Kaerf)
English is your first language, eh?
In 1337 sp33|< since youre using your YoMTV gangster rap speek skillz:
This century has already been "pwn3d" by the nerds.
Guest (Earthcreture)
Guest (Kaerf)
English is your first language, eh?
In 1337 sp33|< since youre using your YoMTV gangster rap speek skillz:
This century has already been "pwn3d" by the nerds.
Guest (Anonymity)
yo yall dont no what you be talkin bout. yall dont have no lives. get out of yall basement and get some fresh air. see the world yall freaks. peace out. if you freaks need to talk about yall problems hit me up at (704-618-5222)
Guest (Anonymity)
yo yall dont no what you be talkin bout. yall dont have no lives. get out of yall basement and get some fresh air. see the world yall freaks. peace out. if you freaks need to talk about yall problems hit me up at (704-618-5222)
Guest (Kaerf)
English is your first language, eh?
In 1337 sp33|< since youre using your YoMTV gangster rap speek skillz:
This century has already been "pwn3d" by the nerds.
Guest (Anonymity)
yo yall dont no what you be talkin bout. yall dont have no lives. get out of yall basement and get some fresh air. see the world yall freaks. peace out. if you freaks need to talk about yall problems hit me up at (704-618-5222)
Guest (ed)
ok for one, gamers play games because they like to escape rl and they like the world... you dont know anything so stop putting stuff up if you are not a gamer
Guest (phantom-666)
you are correct theres nothing wrong w/ games as long as you , sorry kids need me brb
Guest (phantom-666)
you are correct theres nothing wrong w/ games as long as you , sorry kids need me brb
Guest (Earthcreture)
How many of you usless idiots play WoW?
Im doing reasearch on how many local sites have fans on WoW Or World of Warcraft. If you do... WELL GOOD FOR YA and make a comment on this message so i can check on it later kk?
--EC
Guest (yeah)
Not true really...escape from real life? you're talking mad crazy. I play Call of Duty 2 a lot but that doesn't take away from my life. It depends on the person. You can be outgoing and be a gamer or you can be quiet and be a gamer. Escape real life. Thats kinda funny and stupid at the same time
Guest (Jake)
Im 17. Ive been playing video games since I was able to walk. Ive spent much of life playing them. Ive found this whole article offending. Im straight edge. Ive been straight edge since I was a freshman in highschool. Case you dont know what that is its guidlines for life. No drinking, no drug, no tobacco, and no premiscus sex. I ve spent much of my life around video games. I have a girl friend, Im in school making good grades and Ive got plenty of friends. All which are straight edge and some which play video games. I think that by this article you have offended me. You are stero typing people that play video games. NO one forces you to do drugs. No video game intices you to do that. Like music, a song about sex does not make want to have sex. Violence on tv does not cause people to kill. The news has more drugs, violence and sex then anything out there. I find this article rather insulting. You really need to consider what you write.
Guest (teach)
Dear Jake, You do not have a clue how much of reality you have missed by sitting in front of a game and allowing yourself to be manipulated. You obviously have missed some of the finer points of writing - like how to use contractions and not be redundant. You are fooling yourself if you believe that excessive game playing is harmless.
Guest (Chris)
Everyone has something they are good at, or "focus" on. So isn't a tennis player, or soccer player, or even a gardener going to be more keen on taking interest in something related to them, just like a gamer, taking keener interest into something "game related". I don't believe it makes it an addiction, unless overused (e.g all games, no work) it just becomes something that that person, relates to them directly.
I'm keen on web design, as soon as anyone mentions anything about coding/needing help with a site, i hop right on the band wagon - does that make me an addict to coding web pages, just because i feel directly connected to that topic?
Guest (teach)
Dear Jake, You do not have a clue how much of reality you have missed by sitting in front of a game and allowing yourself to be manipulated. You obviously have missed some of the finer points of writing - like how to use contractions and not be redundant. You are fooling yourself if you believe that excessive game playing is harmless.
Guest (Jake)
Im 17. Ive been playing video games since I was able to walk. Ive spent much of life playing them. Ive found this whole article offending. Im straight edge. Ive been straight edge since I was a freshman in highschool. Case you dont know what that is its guidlines for life. No drinking, no drug, no tobacco, and no premiscus sex. I ve spent much of my life around video games. I have a girl friend, Im in school making good grades and Ive got plenty of friends. All which are straight edge and some which play video games. I think that by this article you have offended me. You are stero typing people that play video games. NO one forces you to do drugs. No video game intices you to do that. Like music, a song about sex does not make want to have sex. Violence on tv does not cause people to kill. The news has more drugs, violence and sex then anything out there. I find this article rather insulting. You really need to consider what you write.
Guest (Jake)
Im 17. Ive been playing video games since I was able to walk. Ive spent much of life playing them. Ive found this whole article offending. Im straight edge. Ive been straight edge since I was a freshman in highschool. Case you dont know what that is its guidlines for life. No drinking, no drug, no tobacco, and no premiscus sex. I ve spent much of my life around video games. I have a girl friend, Im in school making good grades and Ive got plenty of friends. All which are straight edge and some which play video games. I think that by this article you have offended me. You are stero typing people that play video games. NO one forces you to do drugs. No video game intices you to do that. Like music, a song about sex does not make want to have sex. Violence on tv does not cause people to kill. The news has more drugs, violence and sex then anything out there. I find this article rather insulting. You really need to consider what you write.
Guest (master.gamer)
Guest (big red )
i want to find out if violent games affect the way people act after playing them
i am a teenager by the way
Guest (joe)
Guest (pig)
Guest (Earthcreture)
Guest (Someonedropahouseonmysisterpleas)
Guest (Andrew)
So then is every form of pleasure we have is a drug. People just try to explain a way what they llike to do as not an addiction but a fun thing to do. It is fun. If you ask a football player what he thinks of when holding a football, he will say playing football. He will then try to play with other people. Its like drug addicts. They like drugs and then when shown or talk about them they want them. This is just another bull s##t reason to try and say games are bad. If its true, then so are sports, tv, theater, and afterschool activities. If there is something to do, then it will become an addiction to somebody because it is enjoyment to them. So dont go saying that video games are addicting like drugs when everything else in the world is the same or worse.
Guest (Laurel)
There may be a pleasure response to photos, but its not the same...will gamers run their families into debt and steal from their friends to buy illegal games? Will they buy insurance on their relatives and have them killed for the money so that they can buy games like addicted gamblers have done? People will stay home from work and school to watch movies, also. It probably says more about their jobs or their schools than anything else.
Guest (aninity 101)
games are for you and me. it is our right as americans to play as long and hard as we want. Many a nights i have tried to hack into the depths of gaming to find more fun and challenging ways to play. HACKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE
Guest (Anonymity)
all yal gamers are FREAKSSSSSSSSSSS all yal 30 year olds that still live at home wit daya momas playin late at night need to grow up. yo peace out...
Guest (ed)
ok for one, gamers play games because they like to escape rl and they like the world... you dont know anything so stop putting stuff up if you are not a gamer
Guest (Jake)
Im 17. Ive been playing video games since I was able to walk. Ive spent much of life playing them. Ive found this whole article offending. Im straight edge. Ive been straight edge since I was a freshman in highschool. Case you dont know what that is its guidlines for life. No drinking, no drug, no tobacco, and no premiscus sex. I ve spent much of my life around video games. I have a girl friend, Im in school making good grades and Ive got plenty of friends. All which are straight edge and some which play video games. I think that by this article you have offended me. You are stero typing people that play video games. NO one forces you to do drugs. No video game intices you to do that. Like music, a song about sex does not make want to have sex. Violence on tv does not cause people to kill. The news has more drugs, violence and sex then anything out there. I find this article rather insulting. You really need to consider what you write.
Guest (Jake)
Im 17. Ive been playing video games since I was able to walk. Ive spent much of life playing them. Ive found this whole article offending. Im straight edge. Ive been straight edge since I was a freshman in highschool. Case you dont know what that is its guidlines for life. No drinking, no drug, no tobacco, and no premiscus sex. I ve spent much of my life around video games. I have a girl friend, Im in school making good grades and Ive got plenty of friends. All which are straight edge and some which play video games. I think that by this article you have offended me. You are stero typing people that play video games. NO one forces you to do drugs. No video game intices you to do that. Like music, a song about sex does not make want to have sex. Violence on tv does not cause people to kill. The news has more drugs, violence and sex then anything out there. I find this article rather insulting. You really need to consider what you write.
Guest (master.gamer)
Guest (big red )
i want to find out if violent games affect the way people act after playing them
i am a teenager by the way
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Guest (Someonedropahouseonmysisterpleas)
Game Away The Day
Does Pong count?
Reply
Guest (Stephen)
So, all gamers are the same?
I am rightfully offended by this article. If I showed anyone a picture of a naked woman, who wouldnt begin to think about it and get mentally excited (either in a negative and possitive manner). I also dont like the fact that these companies are doing these studies for the wrong reasons. Id continue, but there is too much going through my mind after reading this article.
Its just f##king dumb, and I dont know who they are telling me I am addicted because I get excited when I see a simple picture of something I as a gamer recognize.
Reply
Guest (Halogen64)
So What?
Show a guy a good looking girl and hell want to have sex. Show a person a good looking meal and theyll want to eat. Show a person an awesome car and theyll want to buy it. Video Games have nothing to do with the decline of personal apirations, its commercialism. Maybe if companies stopped telling us what we needed and what would make our lives easier and more fun, wed do something else.
Reply
Guest (Dave)
This is the stupidest thing Ive read...
...since the last time Jack Thompsons name came up. Of course people are going to react to things they enjoy, thats how the brain works.
I think its time we throw all the kids in Little League into rehab so they can overcome the dangerous baseball addiction they obviously have.
Reply
Guest (Earthcreture)
4 real man
I totally agree with this guy! keep up the speakin' man!
Reply
Guest (Earthcreture)
Opps......
Damn.... posted it twice
Reply
Guest (Dave)
This is the stupidest thing Ive read...
...since the last time Jack Thompsons name came up. Of course people are going to react to things they enjoy, thats how the brain works.
I think its time we throw all the kids in Little League into rehab so they can overcome the dangerous baseball addiction they obviously have.
Reply
Guest (Tom)
Addiction vs Compulsion?
So people find something they like to do, and they do it to excess.... not the same as being addicted. If its drinking, then that could be a problem, but where the harm in video games? carpal-tunnel syndrome? maybe, but the gaming industry is working hard to make controllers more ergonomic....
Reply
Guest (Haxor the scorpion spawn)
get a life
the point is people are making these games seem like addictive things because they play so much it begins to stop being fun and is in some ways physically addicting. The point is people need to actually do something productive and keep gaming to simple recreation when there is nothing else to do.
Yes video games are fun but when people are playing "lineage 2" for so long that they get too sleep deprived and die...it probably a problem.
Reply
Guest (:n00b//h4x:)
Head Shot!
Heck no. What is this, Spawn camping? Video games and drugs hardly relate except that only users understand. I must say though that too much of anything can be bad. But for the nonusers out there im sorry its a gamer thing.
Reply
Guest (:n00b//h4x:)
You spawn camper!
H Deez you n00b. Sorry that i cant take a club and run around n00b hackin people in a game you call feild hockey. yah know what its all good, go ahead and hate. Ill i can say is that ill PWN you in mario cart any day.
Reply
Guest (H DEEZ)
mario kart
its on..i have big bro big ho today during free but tomorrow were competing in battle...
Reply
Guest (H DEEZ)
mario kart
its on..i have big bro big ho today during free but tomorrow were competing in battle...
Reply
Guest (Stephen)
So, all gamers are the same?
I am rightfully offended by this article. If I showed anyone a picture of a naked woman, who wouldnt begin to think about it and get mentally excited (either in a negative and possitive manner). I also dont like the fact that these companies are doing these studies for the wrong reasons. Id continue, but there is too much going through my mind after reading this article.
Its just f##king dumb, and I dont know who they are telling me I am addicted because I get excited when I see a simple picture of something I as a gamer recognize.
Reply
Guest (Halogen64)
So What?
Show a guy a good looking girl and hell want to have sex. Show a person a good looking meal and theyll want to eat. Show a person an awesome car and theyll want to buy it. Video Games have nothing to do with the decline of personal apirations, its commercialism. Maybe if companies stopped telling us what we needed and what would make our lives easier and more fun, wed do something else.
Reply
Guest (Tom)
Addiction vs Compulsion?
So people find something they like to do, and they do it to excess.... not the same as being addicted. If its drinking, then that could be a problem, but where the harm in video games? carpal-tunnel syndrome? maybe, but the gaming industry is working hard to make controllers more ergonomic....
Reply
Guest (Haxor the scorpion spawn)
get a life
the point is people are making these games seem like addictive things because they play so much it begins to stop being fun and is in some ways physically addicting. The point is people need to actually do something productive and keep gaming to simple recreation when there is nothing else to do.
Yes video games are fun but when people are playing "lineage 2" for so long that they get too sleep deprived and die...it probably a problem.
Reply
Guest (:n00b//h4x:)
Head Shot!
Heck no. What is this, Spawn camping? Video games and drugs hardly relate except that only users understand. I must say though that too much of anything can be bad. But for the nonusers out there im sorry its a gamer thing.
Reply
Guest (:n00b//h4x:)
You spawn camper!
H Deez you n00b. Sorry that i cant take a club and run around n00b hackin people in a game you call feild hockey. yah know what its all good, go ahead and hate. Ill i can say is that ill PWN you in mario cart any day.
Reply
Guest (The Dude)
This is BS
I don't understand why people keep complaining about video games. You have to make the choice to go out and blow someone's head off, the game doesn't do it for you. Just because you do it in a game doesn't mean the game is IMPLYING that you should. It's no better than going to a rated R movie or watching today's television. Seriously, its just ridiculous.
Reply