Regular video game play can impact brain development in teenagers, changing how the brain maps out the real world. Puzzle and logic games may improve memory and spatial awareness, while action and role-playing games are linked to worse performance. Video games provide temporary escape from stress, foster social connections online, and give a sense of measurable progress and challenge through feedback loops and goals. However, gaming can become addictive through mechanisms like high scores, role-playing, and discovery that are aimed at keeping players engaged. Signs of problematic gaming include craving more time, lying about usage, and continuing to play despite negative consequences. Finding balance through limits, outside activities, and cooperative rather than competitive games can help prevent overuse

1. Video Games Ate My Homework

3. Pros and Cons of Gaming

4. How Video Games Change the Brain
● Regular Players - under developing striatum
● Not helping how we map out the real world
● Use - response learning instead of place learning
● Response learning - landmarks
● More advanced Place learning - internal map (distance
/ direction)
● May have neurological problem
● Action, Role Play games - worse memory and map of
your life
● Puzzle, Logic games - better memory and map of life!

5. Why You Play Games
1. Temporary escape - to help
deal with stress / get away
from uncomfortable
situation
2. Social - sense of community
3. Measurable growth -
feedback loop - instant
gratification - feel
PROGRESS
4. Challenge - purpose,
mission and goal to work
towards

7. I feel great while playing the video game.
I feel unhappy, cranky or irritable when not playing.
I get angry when I’m asked to stop.
I crave more playing time.
I spend most of my time in my bedroom with video game systems.
—I think about the game when not playing.
—More and more of my friends are "on line friends."
—I would rather play video games than be with family and friends.
How many of these statements
can you relate to?

8. I try to cut back on playing time but can't.
I play more often than I’d planned.
—I sometimes lie about my playing time.
I sometimes sneak time to play,
before school or late into the night.
I continue to play in spite of negative consequences.
I neglect my responsibilities, such as homework, family chores, or work.
I have arguments with my parents about how much time I spend playing.
How many of these statements
can you relate to?

10. What Makes a Video Game
Addictive?Similar to the design of gambling casinos
Small “wins” - keep them playing
“Hooks” for making video games addictive:
•The High Score
•Beating the Game
•Role-Playing
•Discovery
•Relationships

13. Gaming Best Practice
Cooperative games are better than competitive games
Strategy and Logic games are better than violent games
Put limits on how long you’re gaming for
Balance it out with outside activities and reading
If you get mad when your parents tell you it’s time to stop, you are too
attached to the games!

14. New Activities
Find those needs in other activities!
New activities to:
- Give yourself escape
- Help you make friends
- Give you a sense of progress
- To give you a sense of purpose