What Neuroimaging Studies Reveal About Video Games and the Developing Brain

Neuroimaging research out of the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow gives insight on exactly how design mechanics in video games simulate the brain—and how young brain are particularly vulnerable.

A growing number of parents are filing lawsuits against the makers of popular video games—including Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft, and Call of Duty—accusing them of intentionally designing their platforms to be addictive, particularly for children. Features such as reward loops, social competitions, and in-game purchases are engineered to keep children engaged, parents claim. These mechanics trigger surges of dopamine (the brain’s feel-good chemical), potentially creating an uncontrollable urge to keep playing. A 2026 minireview published in the March 2026 edition of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience helps explain exactly what is happening in the brain when this occurs.

What Brain Scans Reveal

Unlike movies, where participants are passive observers, video game players actively engage in gameplay. This active engagement greatly impacts the brain in a unique way. Research studied in the minireview found that active gameplay significantly increased activity in the brain's mesolimbic areas (also known as reward pathways). These are the same brain structures central to addiction research: for example, addictive drugs take over the brain’s reward system by releasing dopamine surges that create cravings and fuel the addiction. Just like how video games have a similar hold on today’s youth.

The research also examined what scientists call the flow state, meaning “intense and pleasurable engagement in a task” that isn’t too easy or too hard. Many of today’s video games are ideal for triggering such a feeling in children and teens—whose prefrontal cortex has not yet matured. Because of this, children often have a difficult time disengaging from their video games to focus on other important tasks, such as homework or sleep.

How Do Video Game Developers Apply This Knowledge? 

Putting down the controller can be very difficult for a young brain still developing its decision-making abilities. Lawsuits filed from families across the country allege that game developers may be playing into that very idea, deliberately designing games to keep kids playing. Lawsuits allege that developers such as Epic Games (maker of Fortnite), Roblox Corporation (maker or Roblox), and Microsoft/Mojang Studios (maker of Minecraft) knowingly used psychological manipulation techniques when designing their games to sustain player behavior. These techniques mimic gambling to activate the brain’s dopamine pathways and encourage prolonged play. For children, whose impulse control and emotional regulation are still developing, this can lead to compulsive use that disrupts daily life.

The Real-World Consequences

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that children ages 8-18 spend an average of 7.5 hours daily on screens, much of it gaming. The consequences are well documented. A systemic review and meta-analysis published in 2024 analyzed the burden of gaming disorders in children and teens. The meta-analysis considered 84 studies covering over 600,000 individuals and found that the pooled prevalence of gaming disorder was 8.6 %. An increasing trend in the prevalence of gaming disorder was noticed over the years. Negative outcomes among adolescents were observed, including anxiety, depression, social isolation, and poor academic performance.

Brain research helps explain why these outcomes can develop. For instance, studies of first-person shooter games show that areas of the brain linked to empathy and emotional control can become less active during violent gameplay. Over time, repeated exposure may desensitize a child’s emotional responses, possibly contributing to mental health risks.

How Parents Are Taking Back Control

Lawsuits filed against Roblox Corp., Epic Games, and Microsoft/Mojang Studios allege that these companies intentionally used psychological techniques addict young players to their games. Parents also allege that these companies did not warn consumers of the risks for addiction. When gaming begins to disrupt sleep, academic performance, and relationships, the harm is real—and families are now seeking justice for their children.

If your child's gaming has escalated to addiction, you may have legal options.