Mental Effort‐Related EEG Modulation During Video‐Game Play: Comparison Between Juvenile Subjects with Epilepsy and Normal Control Subjects

Abstract

Summary:Purpose: This study investigated the effects of mental effort exerted during video-game play on features of the EEG in juvenile subjects diagnosed with seizure disorders and in age-matched clinically healthy subjects.Methods: EEG was recorded from 14 children (9-15 years old) as they played a video game, watched another person playing a video-game, and sat quietly with their eyes open. Seven of the subjects had been clinically diagnosed with seizure disorders, three of whom had also exhibited photosensitivity.Results: Three spectral components of the EEG showed cognitive load-related modulation. The amplitude of a frontal midline theta (6-7 Hz) signal increased with video-game play relative to the watching and eyes open resting conditions. A posterior alpha band (9-12 Hz) signal was attenuated during the playing and the watching conditions relative to the resting condition. A central mu (10-13 Hz) rhythm was attenuated during the game-playing condition. No significant differences were found between the patient and control groups for any of these features. Incidence of epileptiform events did not discriminate test conditions in the children with epilepsy.Conclusions: The results from this small sample suggest that video-game play tends to produce similar responses from children with epilepsy and in healthy control subjects. These responses in the juvenile population are similar to responses elicited by increased mental load in normal adult populations.

Neurophysiological measures of cognitive workload during human-computer interaction

“…Recent studies have demonstrated that more complicated forms of humancomputer interaction (such as videogame play) produce mental effort-related modulation of the EEG that is similar to that observed during n-back tasks (Pellouchoud et al 1999. This implies that it might be possible to extend EEGbased multivariate methods for monitoring task load to such circumstances.…”

Prediction of Players Motivational States Using Electrophysiological Measures during Serious Game Play

“…Previous studies showed that brain activity has a close relation with alpha and theta changes during video game playing [23]. Indeed, when participants are more motivation and attention, alpha wave's power tends to be suppressed by attention and theta wave's power increases.…”

Studi Awal: Pengaruh Game Kekerasan Terhadap Aktivitas Otak Anak Melalui Pemetaan Sinyal Otak (Brain Mapping) Menggunakan Wireless Eeg

“…Hasil ini sesuai dengan hasil studi EEG selama bermain game yang dilakukan oleh Pellouchoud [12]. Penelitian tersebut melaporkan adanya peningkatan aktivita s EEG frontal midline pada pita theta (6)(7).…”

“…Hasil analisis menyatakan bahwa pada saat bermain game terjadi penurunan PSD (Power Spectral Density) pada frekuensi alpha dan peningkatan PSD pada frekuensi beta. Pellouchoud juga melaporkan adanya penurunan aktivitas pita alpha (9-12 Hz) pada area parietal selama bermain game [12]. Hal ini mengindikasikan bahwa pemain game berada pada kondisi stres selama bermain game.…”