Video games
Interactive play that drives dopamine reward and norepinephrine arousal.
Too little may be associated with
Less of their cognitive and social engagement.
Too much may be associated with
Compulsive gaming, sleep loss, sedentary harm.
Informational only — not medical advice.
Neurotransmitters
Books (8)
Caught in the Net: How to Recognize the Signs of Internet Addiction
Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids
Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life
Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked
Reset Your Child's Brain
The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World
Video Games and Your Kids: How Parents Stay in Control
Research (6)
- Demystifying the New Dilemma of Brain Rot in the Digital Era: A Review Yousef et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Enhanced functional connectivity between the default mode network and executive control network during flow states may facilitate creativity and emotional regulation, and may improve health outcomes Barnett et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Games in the Brain: Neural Substrates of Gambling Addiction Murch et al. (2016) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- [Non-drug addictions] Musalek et al. (2014) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Emerging association between addictive gaming and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Weinstein et al. (2012) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Computer and video game addiction-a comparison between game users and non-game users Weinstein (2010) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
Links
Recovery resources
Help for video games use and recovery. Not an endorsement or medical advice — see all recovery resources.
Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA)
A 12-step fellowship for people recovering from compulsive internet, technology, and screen use.
Online Gamers Anonymous (OLGA)
A fellowship supporting recovery from compulsive video gaming and its effects on gamers and their families.
SMART Recovery
A secular, science-based recovery program using cognitive-behavioral tools for any addictive behavior.
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