Abstract

Research examining the purported association between violent gaming and aggression remains controversial due to concerns related to methodology, unclear neurocognitive mechanisms, and the failure to adequately consider the role of individual differences in susceptibility. To help address these concerns, we used fMRI and an emotional empathy task to examine whether acute and cumulative violent gaming exposure were associated with abnormalities in emotional empathy as a function of trait-empathy. Emotional empathy was targeted given its involvement in regulating not only aggression, but also other important social functions such as compassion and prosocial behaviour. We hypothesized that violent gaming exposure increases the risk of aberrant social behaviour by altering the aversive value of distress cues. Contrary to expectations, neither behavioural ratings nor empathy-related brain activity varied as a function of violent gaming exposure. Notably, however, activation patterns in somatosensory and motor cortices reflected an interaction between violent gaming exposure and trait empathy. Thus, our results are inconsistent with a straightforward relationship between violent gaming exposure and reduced empathy. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of considering both individual differences in susceptibility and other aspects of cognition related to social functioning to best inform public concern regarding safe gaming practices.

Details

Title
The impact of acute violent videogame exposure on neurocognitive markers of empathic concern
Author
Ritchie, Mary B 1 ; Compton, Shannon A H 2 ; Oliver, Lindsay D 3 ; Finger, Elizabeth 4 ; Neufeld, Richard W J 5 ; Mitchell, Derek G V 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

1  Graduate Program in Clinical Science and Psychopathology, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario , London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada 
2  Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario , London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada 
3  Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada 
4  Robarts Institute, University of Western Ontario , London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada 
5  Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario , London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada 
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
Oxford University Press
ISSN
17495016
e-ISSN
17495024
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsae031
ProQuest document ID
3172190708
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.