PubHawk
February 2014 PMID 24166407

Playing Super Mario induces structural brain plasticity: gray matter changes resulting from training with a commercial video game.

S Kühn, T Gleich, R C Lorenz, U Lindenberger, J Gallinat

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Mentions

246
Peak: 8 in Apr 2021
across 7 sources since Oct 2013

Extended reach

199,336
potential audience

Total likes

1,048

Video views

22,497

Mentions per month

Oct 2013 – Dec 2025

Where it's discussed

  • Facebook101 posts
  • News83 articles
  • X / Twitter26 posts
  • Blogs23 articles
  • Reddit8 posts
  • Bluesky3 posts
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone of the discussions is positive and inquisitive, with posts citing scientific articles and highlighting the significance of gray matter increases linked to game training. Words like 'support,' 'benefits,' and references to specific studies demonstrate a keen interest in the implications, while the tone remains supportive but cautious about the broader impact.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge and support the findings, indicating general agreement with the study’s conclusions about brain plasticity from gaming.

InterestHigh interest

There is high curiosity and enthusiasm for the topic, with many expressing fascination about the brain changes linked to popular video games.

EngagementModerate engagement

Discussions include references to scientific studies, mentioning specific brain regions like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, which shows a moderate level of in-depth engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

While the posts suggest the research could influence perceptions of gaming’s benefits, they mainly emphasize its potential rather than asserting broad societal impact.

Abstract in brief

  • Playing Super Mario over two months leads to structural brain changes, specifically increases in gray matter in areas like the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum.
  • These gray matter increases are linked to improved navigation strategies and are influenced by the player's desire to play, suggesting motivation affects brain plasticity.
  • The study indicates that video game training could potentially help counteract brain volume reductions associated with mental health conditions like PTSD, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative diseases.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Neuron
@doctor_neuron · X

マリオで育つ脳 1日30分、2ヶ月間、「スーパーマリオ64」をプレイした研究

Apr 9, 2021 · 46 likes · 10 shares · 1,418 followers View post →
Andra
@BioavailableNd · X

Studies: https://t.co/PvDE5Nw0Wq and https://t.co/4Do38PeM9q

Oct 27, 2025 · 32 likes · 3 shares · 143,292 followers View post →
Héctor Fuster
@hectic_fl · X

Kühn et al. (2014) encontraron que jugar Super Mario indujo aumentos de materia gris en la corteza prefrontal dorsolateral (DLPFC), región clave para planificación y memoria de trabajo. https://t.co/8ZyD2vmenl

Mar 15, 2025 · 15 likes · 2 shares · 6,168 followers View post →
Neuron
@doctor_neuron · X

マリオで、海馬、前頭葉の脳を育てる！！ 1日30分、2ヶ月間、「スーパーマリオ64」をプレイした研究 参考文献では、脳の「海馬」「前頭葉（背外側前頭前野）」、両側小脳において、脳の体積増加を認めた。 ＃ゲーム　＃脳　＃育児　＃スーパーマリオ https://t.co/1ITwiXehMD

Oct 31, 2020 · 5 likes · 1,418 followers View post →
özcan
@verusspiritus · X

tetris ve super mario oynamak beyin plastisitesini olumlu anlamda etkiliyor. tetris: https://t.co/M49M3FbLyR super mario: https://t.co/HySIfmWikM

Jan 21, 2024 · 3 likes · 1,111 followers View post →
yann leroux
@yannleroux · X

bravo @MathieuTriclot pour être #preums sur le fil KÜHN, Simone, GLEICH, Tobias, LORENZ, Robert C., et al. Playing Super Mario induces structural brain plasticity: gray matter changes resulting from training with a commercial video game. Molecular psychiatry, 2014, vol. 19, no 2

Aug 30, 2021 · 1 like · 12,910 followers View post →

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رنا بنت منصور الحميدان
@RanaAlhumaidan · X

https://t.co/JwXmdhDQeW https://t.co/LrATLl5ojH

Oct 28, 2025 · 302 followers View post →
Seb
@Dr_Naranjo_ · X

RT @BioavailableNd: Studies: https://t.co/PvDE5Nw0Wq and https://t.co/4Do38PeM9q

Oct 28, 2025 · 3 shares · 994 followers View post →
booming buttercup
@FatCatNation · X

RT @BioavailableNd: Studies: https://t.co/PvDE5Nw0Wq and https://t.co/4Do38PeM9q

Oct 28, 2025 · 3 shares · 629 followers View post →
Moncada
@Monscatanus · X

RT @BioavailableNd: Studies: https://t.co/PvDE5Nw0Wq and https://t.co/4Do38PeM9q

Oct 27, 2025 · 3 shares · 11 followers View post →
Andra
@BioavailableNd · X

Studies: https://t.co/PvDE5Nw0Wq and https://t.co/4Do38PeM9q

Oct 27, 2025 · 32 likes · 3 shares · 143,292 followers View post →
Maybel Sofia
@maybel65 · X

RT @hectic_fl: Kühn et al. (2014) encontraron que jugar Super Mario indujo aumentos de materia gris en la corteza prefrontal dorsolateral (…

Mar 16, 2025 · 2 shares · 2,161 followers View post →
Héctor Fuster
@hectic_fl · X

Kühn et al. (2014) encontraron que jugar Super Mario indujo aumentos de materia gris en la corteza prefrontal dorsolateral (DLPFC), región clave para planificación y memoria de trabajo. https://t.co/8ZyD2vmenl

Mar 15, 2025 · 15 likes · 2 shares · 6,168 followers View post →
özcan
@verusspiritus · X

tetris ve super mario oynamak beyin plastisitesini olumlu anlamda etkiliyor. tetris: https://t.co/M49M3FbLyR super mario: https://t.co/HySIfmWikM

Jan 21, 2024 · 3 likes · 1,111 followers View post →
tokatti
@tokatti_ · X

デカくなった https://t.co/xkBc4IVcwT この結果を見るとオープンワールドなんかは相当に脳に良さげかも #自分用メモ

Aug 16, 2023 · 189 followers View post →
Hoofield V. Tussleworth
@avery_pvp · X

@MeguruKinnie @Ace_C_7 @ostonox Sources that claim it has benefits: https://t.co/aiQkwisLbp https://t.co/55rQi4zlED https://t.co/vyFbvhasAt https://t.co/uSmAtGSclW First link is specifically about minecraft.

Apr 8, 2023 · 545 followers View post →
Only Ohm
@only_ohm_again · X

@SchaefflerGroup K\"uhn et al. (2014), _Mol. Psychiatry_ *19*:265, doi:10.1038/mp.2013.120

Oct 13, 2022 · 289 followers View post →
yann leroux
@yannleroux · X

bravo @MathieuTriclot pour être #preums sur le fil KÜHN, Simone, GLEICH, Tobias, LORENZ, Robert C., et al. Playing Super Mario induces structural brain plasticity: gray matter changes resulting from training with a commercial video game. Molecular psychiatry, 2014, vol. 19, no 2

Aug 30, 2021 · 1 like · 12,910 followers View post →
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RT @doctor_neuron: マリオで育つ脳 1日30分、2ヶ月間、「スーパーマリオ64」をプレイした研究

Apr 29, 2021 · 10 shares · 179 followers View post →
Tetsumasa Ota
@Ota68526891 · X

RT @doctor_neuron: マリオで育つ脳 1日30分、2ヶ月間、「スーパーマリオ64」をプレイした研究

Apr 14, 2021 · 10 shares · 141 followers View post →
よしの
@tomasland100 · X

RT @doctor_neuron: マリオで育つ脳 1日30分、2ヶ月間、「スーパーマリオ64」をプレイした研究

Apr 10, 2021 · 10 shares · 17 followers View post →
だいちゃん
@xxhjU4idNGadAge · X

RT @doctor_neuron: マリオで育つ脳 1日30分、2ヶ月間、「スーパーマリオ64」をプレイした研究

Apr 10, 2021 · 10 shares · 33 followers View post →
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@Kaj9sOmlP7MyWNn · X

RT @doctor_neuron: マリオで育つ脳 1日30分、2ヶ月間、「スーパーマリオ64」をプレイした研究

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RT @doctor_neuron: マリオで育つ脳 1日30分、2ヶ月間、「スーパーマリオ64」をプレイした研究

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@tea73043392 · X

RT @doctor_neuron: マリオで育つ脳 1日30分、2ヶ月間、「スーパーマリオ64」をプレイした研究

Apr 9, 2021 · 10 shares · 337 followers View post →
Neuron
@doctor_neuron · X

マリオで育つ脳 1日30分、2ヶ月間、「スーパーマリオ64」をプレイした研究

Apr 9, 2021 · 46 likes · 10 shares · 1,418 followers View post →
tokatti
@tokatti_ · X

研究者いわく、テレビゲームと脳の容量アップには直接的な関係があることを示している この効果が起きるゲームの条件 リアルタイムの判断を要求される 謎解きの要素がある 3D空間を飛び回れる といったあたりが重要っぽい https://t.co/4ZBdVmlw1Y ロンドン大学の実験 参加者を2グループにわけて「

Dec 6, 2020 · 189 followers View post →
Neuron
@doctor_neuron · X

マリオで、海馬、前頭葉の脳を育てる！！ 1日30分、2ヶ月間、「スーパーマリオ64」をプレイした研究 参考文献では、脳の「海馬」「前頭葉（背外側前頭前野）」、両側小脳において、脳の体積増加を認めた。 ＃ゲーム　＃脳　＃育児　＃スーパーマリオ https://t.co/1ITwiXehMD

Oct 31, 2020 · 5 likes · 1,418 followers View post →
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@ludigencia · X

#Gamificación Nos gusta @gecon_es [8] Kühn, S., Gleich, T., Lorenz, R. C., Lindenberger, U., & Gallinat, J. (2014). Playing Super Mario induces structural brain plasticity: Gray matter changes resulting from training with a commercial video game. Molecular Psychiatry, 19(1)…

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@jposas · X

Playing Super Mario induces structural brain plasticity: gray matter changes resulting from training with a commercial video game. https://t.co/Zq4jT13lJR

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@JayHealthPro · X

RT @Shmaddam: Playing Super Mario induces structural brain plasticity: gray matter changes resulting from training with a commercial video…

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@Shmaddam · X

Playing Super Mario induces structural brain plasticity: gray matter changes resulting from training with a commercial video game | Molecular Psychiatry ⁦@JayReagan⁩ #itstime https://t.co/xiW34vDKNg

Jan 18, 2019 · 1 share · 113 followers View post →
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@seeingwithsound.bsky.social · Bluesky

Playing Super Mario induces structural brain plasticity: gray matter changes from training with video game http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/v19/n2/abs/mp2013120a.html

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The vOICe vision BCI
@seeingwithsound.bsky.social · Bluesky

Playing Super Mario induces structural brain plasticity: gray matter changes resulting from training http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/mp2013120a.html

Oct 31, 2013 View post →