Immense data processing within brain networks in professional gamers

Internet video games represent complex systems that process large data volumes, requiring cognitive skills. We hypothesized that professional gamers must effectively process a vast amount of information to compete, likely involving altered brain functional connectivity (FC), cortical volumes, and white matter connectivity (FA) within dorsal attention and thalamocortical networks (DAN and TCN, respectively). The study recruited 23 professional gamers and 20 healthy control participants. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning and cognitive function tests. Professional gamers demonstrated enhanced FC, larger cortical volumes, and improved FA within DAN compared to controls. They showed increased FC from the right anterior insula to the right anterior cingulate cortex and decreased FC within the TCN. Cortical thickness and FA values in attention-related regions were also higher. Working memory backward was negatively correlated with the FC from the left thalamus to the left pre-cingulate cortex in all participants. Hence, the brains of professional gamers adapt to respond to an immense influx of external stimuli by enhancing neurotransmission in the concentration-related white matter regions, along with enhanced connectivity and volume of DAN and restriction of TCN connectivity.