Correlation between videogame mechanics and executive functions through EEG analysis

Abstract

This paper addresses a different point of view of videogames, specifically serious games for health. This paper contributes to that area with a multidisciplinary perspective focus on neurosciences and computation. The experiment population has been pre-adolescents between the ages of 8 and 12 without any cognitive issues. The experiment consisted in users playing videogames as well as performing traditional psychological assessments; during these tasks the frontal brain activity was evaluated. The main goal was to analyse how the frontal lobe of the brain (executive function) works in terms of prominent cognitive skills during five types of game mechanics widely used in commercial videogames. The analysis was made by collecting brain signals during the two phases of the experiment, where the signals were analysed with an electroencephalogram neuroheadset. The validated hypotheses were whether videogames can develop executive functioning and if it was possible to identify which kind of cognitive skills are developed during each kind of typical videogame mechanic. The results contribute to the design of serious games for health purposes on a conceptual level, particularly in support of the diagnosis and treatment of cognitive-related pathologies.

Commentary: Fighting Depression: Action Video Game Play May Reduce Rumination and Increase Subjective and Objective Cognition in Depressed Patients

“…The authors expand on how these studies often fail to control for the variability that arises from differences in gameplay mechanics, suggesting that the cognitive effects of playing video games may differ even within a genre. This is supported by Mondéjar et al ( 2016 ) who found that variations in gameplay mechanics of video games within the same genre can activate different parts of the brain. The authors classified games into five key genres, notably subdividing action video games into two categories: timely action and accurate action.…”

“…Kühn et al ( 2018 ) used an action video game, a genre that Powers et al ( 2013 ) reported had a moderate effect size (Cohen's d = 0.22–0.62) with respect to cognitive functioning. Research has shown that general cognitive activation and executive functioning are more linked to games that involved learning patterns and logical puzzles, components not found in Boson X, than those that are classified as action video games (Mondéjar et al, 2016 ). Subsequently, Boson X may not be an effective medium for the alleviation of depressive symptoms perhaps because it does not target the cognitive abilities that have been implicated in rumination (and depression).…”

Computational EEG Analysis Techniques When Playing Video Games: A Systematic Review

“…FFT, averaging different values, phase coherence, Correlation based Feature Selection, Bayesian network classifiers Mondejar et al [14] This paper explores cognitive skills and their training through the uses of serious games by using EEG to assess that relation.…”

Analyzing and Predicting Empathy in Neurotypical and Nonneurotypical Users with an Affective Avatar

“…There are several ways to achieve this goal, among them, facial recognition through active shape models [9], histograms of oriented gradients [10], voice recognition based on support vector machines [11] and ontological mechanisms to identify emotions and human behavior [12], and EEGbased cognitive activity [13]. As for general applications in health, it can be used for physical rehabilitation [14] or prevention of health issues [15], as well as applications in game-based approaches [16].…”