The figure depicts brain pathways with enhanced functional connectivity in expert AVGs compared to amateurs. Note that anterior (green), transitional (yellow) and posterior (red) regions of the brain showed greater connectivity in the experts, particularly in the left hemisphere. Subsequent analysis showed that expert AVGs also had more gray matter in the left insular cortex and central insular sulcus. Thus, the authors conclude that action video gaming can increase gray matter volume and integration of networks associated with attention and sensorimotor function.

It turns out that the years I spent playing Wolfenstein, Counterstrike and Unreal Tournament didn’t completely go to waste.