暴力电子游戏正在改变你的孩子的大脑吗？

一项新的研究发现仅仅玩暴力电子游戏一星期就能够改变玩游戏游戏的年轻人的大脑。

Researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe how playing video games might affect the brain. The results indicated that boys who played violent video games experienced changes in regions associated with cognitive function and emotional control.

来自印第安那大学医学院的研究人员用机能性磁共振成像来观察电子游戏能如何影响大脑。研究结果表明玩暴力电子游戏的男孩子大脑与认知功能和情绪控制有关的区域会出现变化。

Even more concerning, the researchers believe that these changes are likely long-term. However, the study did not test whether these mental changes lead to physical violence.

关于进一步的发现，研究人员相信这些变化可能是长久的。然而，研究并没有测试这些精神变化是否能造成身体暴力倾向。

The findings come on the heels of a recent report that a condition known as “pathological Internet misuse” – in which children and young adults become dangerously addicted to computer games and the Internet – could soon be formally recognized as a mental health disorder.

这些发现紧随不久前的一项报告发表。那项报告称孩子和年轻人很有危险沉迷于电脑游戏和网络，即一种叫做“病理性互联网使用”的情况。这种情况不久就被正式认为是一种精神健康紊乱。

Personally, I’m inclined to believe this study for the simple reason that we know social behavior is shaped by our human experiences. If we as children have been exposed to violence, drugs or abuse, those experiences could theoretically shape the way we behave as adults.

就我个人而言，我倾向于相信这项研究只是我们所熟知的社会行为由人类经验影响的一个简单的例子而已。如果我们还是孩童是就经历了暴力，毒品或是遭受虐待，那么这些经历理论上肯定会对我们作为成年人的行为产生影响。

I also know that virtual reality is getting more and more sophisticated between 3-dimensional graphics and life-like sounds, and the personal experience of players is getting to the point where they can lose sight of what’s real and what’s not.

我也相信在立体绘画与逼真的声音之间真相已变得越来越复杂。而且玩者个人的经历可能使他们知道该忽视哪些是真实的，哪些是虚幻的东西。

That’s why I think parents need to be very careful in introducing video games that are not age-appropriate to their children.

这就是为何我认为父母在为他们的孩子挑选电子游戏的时候，对那些不适合他们孩子的游戏要特别慎重。

Remember, there are many ways for kids to get a hold of these games: other people’s homes, libraries and the Internet; so pay attention – especially this holiday season.

记住，有很多方式将孩子们与这些游戏联系在一起：别人家里，图书馆和网络；所以要一定要留心，尤其是这个假期。