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

ObjectiveaaThe present study assessed the difference in the brain activity of professional gamers (excessive players, but not addicts) in response to playing a 3-dimensional online game with an improved interface. MethodsaaTwenty-three StarCraft I pro gamers and 16 StarCraft II pro gamers were recruited at Chung Ang University Medical Cen ter. Brain activity in response to StarCraft I or II cues was assessed with a 1.5 Tesla Espree MRI scanner. ResultsaaStarCraft I pro gamers showed significantly greater activity in 4 clusters in response to the video game cues compared to Star Craft II pro gamers: right superior frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, right occipital lobe, and left medial frontal gyrus. StarCraft II pro gamers 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. DiscussionaaThis is the first study to show the difference in brain activity between gamers playing either a 2-dimensional or 3-dimen sional online game. Current brain imaging studies may confirm the pro gamers’ experience when playing StarCraft II, a 3-dimensional game with an improved interface, relative to playing StarCraft I. Psychiatry Investig 2013;10:115-120 Key Wordsaa StarCraft, Three dimensional, Two dimensional, Pro-gamer, Functional magnetic resonance imaging.