The memory-evaluation study, headed by Dr. Franklin McCarroll of New York University's School of Psychology, revealed that approximately 47 percent of Jenkins' hippocampus is dedicated to storing notable video-game victories and frustrating last-minute defeats, while 32 percent of his amygdala contains embedded neurological scripts pertaining to game strategies, character back stories, theme songs, and cheat codes. In addition, his entire dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is devoted to remembering the time he did a helicopter dunk from half-court with Shawn Kemp at the buzzer to beat the Charlotte Hornets 82-81 in NBA Jam: Tournament Edition.
Amazing huh? Too bad it's not true since it's from The Onion. However, they might be onto something... As a recent post at Mind Hacks reports London Taxi drivers had larger Hippocampi the longer they were on the job. So the question is, do video game players who play first person shooters have larger hippocampi than those who play sports games?
Brain & Behavior
Technology
Comments
I am wondering what type of job you should have to increase the size of your hippocampus.
Posted by: Online Health | January 12, 2008 12:37 PM
Why? Having a generically larger hippocampus isn't necessarily going to help you with memory in general.
Posted by: Steve Higgins | January 12, 2008 12:57 PM
Honestly, I never understand why people are so self-conscious about the size of their hippocampus. It's how you USE it that counts.
Posted by: Brian | January 14, 2008 2:27 PM
"reports London Taxi drivers had larger Hippocampi the longer they were on the job. "
I wonder if the ones who have been on the job for decades have to get bigger hats? LOL!
Dave Briggs :~)
Posted by: Dave Briggs | January 16, 2008 11:56 AM