Music Games: Potential Application and Considerations for Rhythmic Training

Abstract

Rhythmic skills are natural and widespread in the general population. The majority can track the beat of music and move along with it. These abilities are meaningful from a cognitive standpoint given their tight links with prominent motor and cognitive functions such as language and memory. When rhythmic skills are challenged by brain damage or neurodevelopmental disorders, remediation strategies based on rhythm can be considered. For example, rhythmic training can be used to improve motor performance (e.g., gait) as well as cognitive and language skills. Here, we review the games readily available in the market and assess whether they are well-suited for rhythmic training. Games that train rhythm skills may serve as useful tools for retraining motor and cognitive functions in patients with motor or neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, dyslexia, or ADHD). Our criteria were the peripheral used to capture and record the response, the type of response and the output measure. None of the existing games provides sufficient temporal precision in stimulus presentation and/or data acquisition. In addition, games do not train selectively rhythmic skills. Hence, the available music games, in their present form, are not satisfying for training rhythmic skills. Yet, some features such as the device used, the interface or the game scenario provide good indications for devising efficient training protocols. Guidelines are provided for devising serious music games targeting rhythmic training in the future.

Effects of interactive video-game–based exercise on balance in older adults with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease

“…The safety and effectiveness of several commercial exercise gaming (exergaming) systems for motor rehabilitation in PD patients have been extensively investigated [15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Two prospective studies reported that exercises using the virtual-reality-based Wii Fit substantially improved obstacle-crossing performance, dynamic balance, and attention in patients with mild-to-moderate PD (HY stage 3 or lower) [19,21].…”

“…A recent short review found that most of the commercially available rhythm-based games were insufficient for training rhythmic skills, although some features of the games were interesting. Hence, this review concluded that current rhythm-based games still required further modification to devise efficient rhythmic training programs for patients with motor or cognitive impairment [ 15 ]. A systematic review published in 2014 concluded that commercial exergames (Nintendo Wii Fit platform and Sony Playstation Eye) often require fast and complex responses that may be too difficult for some PD patients; therefore, specifically tailored exergames are needed to meet the safety and rehabilitation needs of patients with mild-to-moderate PD [ 16 ].…”

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

“…From the above results, it was found that playing a rhythm game increases the processing speed for complicated tasks, and this study also found that the degree of selective attention increased during the rhythm game. Bégel et al (2017) conducted systematic reviews about music games to verify the beneficial effects of rhythm training and found that training using rhythm games has a positive effect on cognitive function and human movement. In addition, they mentioned that rhythm games might be adopted to cognitive training.…”

“…(ppy pty Ltd., Australia) is a free online rhythm game that a player taps a series of circles to the beat of the music, occasionally dragging a ball or rotating a spinner on the screen as well. Bégel et al (2017) conducted a review study to verify the beneficial effects of rhythm games, and study mentioned that training using rhythm games has a positive effect on cognitive function and physical rhythm perception. However, there is no scientific evidence has not been validated and needs to be validated for use by eSports athletes as a training tool.…”

Analysis and evaluation of mobile rhythm games : Game structure and playability

“…Also, it is reported that gamers of this genre have shown high level rhythm recognition skills on certain musical instrument through playing [5,6]. The educational effect of this genre, however, is not clearly shown by a systematic review [7] but its intrinsic value on potential creativity learning is encouraged [8,9].…”