Comparison of Brain Activation in Response to Two Dimensional and Three Dimensional On-Line Games

Abstract

Objective The present study assessed the difference in the brain activity of professional gathers (excessive players, but not addicts) in response to playing a 3-dimensional Online game with an improved interface. Methods Twenty-three StarCraft I pro garners and 16 StarCraft II pro garners were recruited at Chung Ang University Medical Center. Brain activity in response to StarCraft I or II cues was assessed with a 1.5 Tesla Espree MRI scanner. Results StarCraft I pro garners showed significantly greater activity in 4 clusters in response to the video game cues compared to StarCraft II pro garners: right superior frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, right occipital lobe, and left medial frontal gyrus. StarCraft II pro garners showed significantly greater activity in 3 clusters in response to the video game cues compared to StarCraft I pro gamers: left middle frontal gyrus, left temporal fusiform gyrus and left cerebellum. Discussion This is the first study to show the difference in brain activity between gamers playing either a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional online game. Current brain imaging studies may confirm the pro garners' experience when playing StarCraft II, a 3-dimensional game with an improved interface, relative to playing StarCraft I.