Science Reviews

In conclusion, after playing each video game, most of the subject’s blood pressure and pulse increased. Grand theft auto increased each subject’s blood pressure and pulse compared to Minecraft which changed it the least.This is because the sympathetic nervous system is one of the body’s regulatory mechanisms.

One of its jobs is to deal with stress. The nervous system is programmed with a fight-or-flight response to increase your chances of survival if you find yourself in danger. So when your mind is focused on watching a scary movie or playing a video game with intense action, even though you may not actually be in real danger, your adrenal medulla gland still springs into action because of your stressed state. It releases hormones and a rush of adrenaline that could help you fight or get away by increasing blood pressure and pulse.