A study on psychological training of eSports using digital games: Focusing on rhythm game

Abstract

Incidentally, several studies have mentioned that digital games or video games have a positive impact on psychological skills (Green, et al., 2003; Pessoa, 2009; Anguera, et al., 2013). Thus, this study aimed to examine the psychological skills focusing on selective attention by comparing the power change in the beta wave band of the EEG during game play and the results of the trail making test (TMT) conducted before and after. Participants were ten male college students who usually play game for at least one hour per day, five days per week (age: M = 21.90 ± 1.96). This study adopted "Osu!" that is a free online rhythm game as an experimental task, because several articles mentioned that professional gamers usually use "Osu!" as a warming up or practice before gaming (Webb, 2019; Carpenter, 2019). Thus, "Osu!" is assumed to have the effect of enhancing the players' psychological skills. In addition, the TMT part B is adopted to measure attention to speed, motor speed, visual screening, mental flexibility, perseverance, interference affinity and reaction inhibition. As a result of comparing change in biological attention extracted from the EEG during game play or baseline measurement, there is a significant difference in selective attentional state between baseline and while game play. In comparison of TMT indicated that processing speed in after rhythm game was tended to be faster than before play. Thus, this study might be indicated that rhythm game would be the one of the psychological or cognitive training tool for eSports.

Comparison of EEG biofeedback and visual search strategies during e-sports play according to skill level

“…The human psychological (mental) state can also be reflected by recording electrical signals obtained from electrodes placed on the scalp. For example, Hagiwara, Akiyama, et al (2020) measured the EEG of FP1 (10-20 system) located in the left frontal lobe of participants performing the rhythm game and noted an increase in selective attention levels. In addition, Hagiwara et al (2019) found that the concentration values during gameplay were significantly higher compared to the baseline, when the soccer game was performed for 10 minutes.…”

“…Therefore, in the present study, we used the same EEG measures as in the studies by Hagiwara et al (2019); Hagiwara, Akiyama, et al (2020). Specifically, the participants wore an EEG device on their heads, and electrodes were attached to their ears and forehead to obtain data on the intensity of alpha (8-13 Hz) and beta (13-40 Hz) waves, at 1-second intervals.…”