The Effects of Media Violence on Adult Right Prefrontal Cortex Functioning

Abstract

With technology and media becoming a staple of everyday life, it begs the question how this cultural shift, and how we respond to it, is affecting us. The purpose of the study is to determine if viewing excessively violent media influences adult right prefrontal cortex functioning, an area that, when not functioning properly, has been associated with irritability, aggressiveness, and lack of self-control. A total of 46 participants from a university in middle Tennessee had the cognitive abilities of their right prefrontal cortex tested before and after viewing a neutral or violent video clip using three neuropsychological test batteries. Although results did not show significance, it demonstrated a need for further investigation as to how the shift in entertainment could be affecting childhood into adulthood.