Virtual Environments May Enrich and Improve Hippocampal-Associated Memory

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Summary:
Gregory Clemenson and Craig Stark conducted a study in 2015 at the University of California, Irvine to determine whether past research on environmental enrichment and rodents could apply to humans and video games. The researchers define "environmental enrichment" as exposure to an intellectually stimulating environment that effects improvement in hippocampal functions. Prior studies manipulated the concept of enrichment in rodents, with evidence suggesting that similar roles are performed by the hippocampus of both a rodent and a human in the context of spatial navigation and memory. To explore environmental enrichment in humans, researchers tested the hypothesis in three separate experiments involving a control group of ‘non-gamers’, a 2D game (e.g., Angry Birds), and a 3D game (e.g., Super Mario Bros. 3D World). They accounted for factors such as years of video game experience, hours played daily and weekly, as well as designating participants as ‘gamers’ and ‘non-gamers’. Utilizing cognitive tasks, such as Mnemonic Similarity Task, that tracked and measured particular hippocampal functions before, during, and after the experiments, the researchers discovered that participants who played in an engagingly complex and stimulating 3D setting received significantly better scores on hippocampal-dependent tasks. In short, the study concludes, while video game experience had no effect on hippocampal efficiency, the video game platform on which individuals played may affect how the hippocampus engages with and adapts to complex stimuli.

Reflection:
The findings demonstrate a fascinating phenomenon that occurs upon an organism’s novel exposure to a stimulating environment. However, as the researchers contemplate in the discussion section, the results suggest that virtual environments may be a “human correlate” for cultivating hippocampal performance and could potentially reduce possible cognitive deficits caused by “neurodegenerative diseases and aging.” Moreover, research on rodents produced promising results relating to the enhancement of hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. This could turn into an excitingly new area of inquiry within neuroscience, that certain designs of video games may hold unforeseen benefits for the brain. While there are undeniabley negative effects of video games that research has shown, I still believe that the outcomes of the study yield significant implications in our lives. With technology steadily progressing, and with the growing popularity of virtual environments and reality, more research should be conducted to further explore the potential benefits of environmental enrichment in humans. Finally, Clemenson and Stark tested their hypothesis on college students. One can only imagine the impact that 3D virtual environments may have on developing brain structures of teens and children.


http://www.jneurosci.org/content/35/49/16116

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 23, 2018 at 7:58 AM

    The idea that, as you put it, "certain designs of video games may hold unforeseen benefits for the brain[...]" is most interesting. Using basic 2D games and even Super Mario Bros. 3D World, which when compared to other video games available, is a relatively basic game as far as player goal and character control can go. I am curious as to what types of video games researchers will find more neurological benefit from.

    In addition to testing heir hypothesis on college students, I wonder what could be found on the testing on the elderly. As those who played the 2D game performed better on hippocampal-dependent tasks, and those who played the 3D game scored even higher, what would results look like in those who are in early stages of Alzheimer's and even late stages? I suppose for that answer, we will only have to wait for more research.

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  2. UnknownApril 24, 2018 at 6:20 PM

    This is an interesting finding that offers an alternative perspective on video games that does not coincide with the societal stigma. People may consider games as mindless sources of entertainment, but this study demonstrates that there is so much potential in games to positively affect the brain. Because this study focused on college students, a possible extension of this research could include investigating the effects of complex games on people with hippocampal deficits, such as those caused by brain trauma.

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