A research team from Georgia State University wanted to see how video games affect the brain. At first, they didn’t expect much — maybe a few minor differences here and there. But the results turned out to be a lot more curious than that.

People who play games regularly show more activity in brain regions tied to decision-making, perception, and quick responses. And it’s not just while they’re playing. These skills seem to stick, showing up in everyday tasks too.

Even those who play around five hours a week tend to do better on tests that require fast thinking. They react quicker, make fewer mistakes, and often finish attention tests without slipping up. Scientists think their brains may be wired just a bit differently.

In total, 47 volunteers took part in the study. Out of them, 28 were gamers. The rest either played rarely or didn’t play at all. Everyone was given the same reaction-based tasks while their brain activity was tracked using MRI.

The tasks looked simple. But they were anything but relaxing. A series of images flashed on a screen, and participants had to respond fast by pressing a button. Meanwhile, researchers watched which parts of the brain lit up at the moment of choice.

In gamers, the areas that handle movement and fast processing were more active. These regions help make sense of what’s going on and trigger an immediate reaction. So gamers tend to notice changes faster and respond almost right away.

Non-gamers showed activity in the same areas — just slower and less in sync. Their brains needed more time to figure things out. For gamers, though, it all seemed automatic, like a well-practiced shortcut the brain had learned over time.

This material was prepared with support from www.twinspinca.com