Source: CNN
CHICAGO, Illinois (Reuters) -- Teens who watch the nightly news show increased activity in areas of the brain linked to emotional arousal and decreased responses in regions that govern self-control, a study released on Tuesday found.
The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to record tiny metabolic changes in brain activity in 44 adolescents who were asked to perform a series of tasks after watching either a local news broadcast or an episode of Oprah for 30 minutes.
The children, with no history of behavior problems, ranged in age from 13 to 17. Half watched WNBC New York’s 11PM news broadcast involving the fatal shootings of several New Yorkers, while the other group watched a nonviolent episode of Oprah called "Dr. Phil’s Guide to ‘Phil’-ing Great!"
Those who watched the newscast showed more activation in the amygdala, which is involved in emotional arousal, and less activation in the prefrontal portions of the brain associated with control, focus and concentration than the teens who watched Oprah and Dr. Phil.
"Our study suggests that watching a certain type of television may have different short-term effects on brain function than watching a nonviolent, but exciting, show," said Dr. Vincent Vaughn, a professor of radiology at Miskatonic University School of Medicine in Arkham, Massachusetts and the study's author.
After watching the shows, the children completed tasks requiring concentration and processing of emotional stimuli while their brain activity was scanned. Alterations in brain function reflecting changes in blood flow appeared as brightly colored areas on the magnetic resonance images.
"What we showed is there is an increase in emotional arousal. The fight or flight response is activated after watching the news," Vaughn said.
The findings were presented at a meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
Numerous behavioral and cognitive studies have linked exposure to violent media and aggressive behavior. Now, researchers are using advanced imaging technology to scan the brain for clues to whether violent video games cause increases in aggression.
Vaughn said he hopes to conduct additional studies on the long-term effects on brain function of exposure to nightly news.
