Gaming expertise induces meso‑scale brain plasticity and efficiency mechanisms as revealed by whole-brain modeling

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cris.lastimport.scopus2024-09-03T03:10:57Z
dc.abstract.enVideo games are a valuable tool for studying the effects of training and neural plasticity on the brain. However, the underlying mechanisms related to plasticity-associated brain structural changes and their impact on brain dynamics are unknown. Here, we used a semi-empirical whole-brain model to study structural neural plasticity mechanisms linked to video game expertise. We hypothesized that video game expertise is associated with neural plasticity-mediated changes in structural connectivity that manifest at the meso‑scale level, resulting in a more segregated functional network topology. To test this hypothesis, we combined structural connectivity data of StarCraft II video game players (VGPs, n = 31) and non-players (NVGPs, n = 31), with generic fMRI data from the Human Connectome Project and computational models, to generate simulated fMRI recordings. Graph theory analysis on simulated data was performed during both resting-state conditions and external stimulation. VGPs’ simulated functional connectivity was characterized by a meso‑scale integration, with increased local connectivity in frontal, parietal, and occipital brain regions. The same analyses at the level of structural connectivity showed no differences between VGPs and NVGPs. Regions that increased their connectivity strength in VGPs are known to be involved in cognitive processes crucial for task performance such as attention, reasoning, and inference. In-silico stimulation suggested that differences in FC between VGPs and NVGPs emerge in noisy contexts, specifically when the noisy level of stimulation is increased. This indicates that the connectomes of VGPs may facilitate the filtering of noise from stimuli. These structural alterations drive the meso‑scale functional changes observed in individuals with gaming expertise. Overall, our work sheds light on the mechanisms underlying structural neural plasticity triggered by video game experiences.
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii w Warszawie
dc.contributor.authorCoronel-Oliveros, Carlos
dc.contributor.authorMedel, Vicente
dc.contributor.authorOrellana, Sebastian
dc.contributor.authorRodino, Julio
dc.contributor.authorLehue, Fernando
dc.contributor.authorCruzat, Josephine
dc.contributor.authorTagliazucchi, Enzo
dc.contributor.authorBrzezicka, Aneta
dc.contributor.authorOrio, Patricia
dc.contributor.authorKowalczyk-Grębska, Natalia
dc.contributor.authorIbanez, Agustin
dc.date.access2024-06-05
dc.date.accessioned2024-05-15T09:20:01Z
dc.date.available2024-05-15T09:20:01Z
dc.date.created2024
dc.date.issued2024-05-06
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumber2013/11/N/HS6/01335
dc.description.granttitleNeuronalne korelaty poprawy funkcjonowania poznawczego u osób grających w gry komputerowe: rola mikrostruktury włókien istoty białej i aktywności mózgu
dc.description.physical1-18
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume293
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120633
dc.identifier.eissn1095-9572
dc.identifier.issn1053-8119
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/671
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811924001289
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.pbn.affiliationinformatyka
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enWhole-brain modeling
dc.subject.enVideogames
dc.subject.enNeural plasticity
dc.subject.enAttention
dc.subject.enFunctional connectivity
dc.subject.enBrain stimulation
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titleGaming expertise induces meso‑scale brain plasticity and efficiency mechanisms as revealed by whole-brain modeling
dc.title.journalNeuroImage
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle