PigScape: An embodied video game for cognitive peer-training of impulse and behavior control in children with ADHD

Abstract

This paper describes a therapeutic full-body controlled video game for children with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).The game supports a co-located gameplay with a depth-sensing camera and a large media screen. Children play the game in pairs for improved impulse and behavior control, self-regulation, peer-communication, and emotion regulation. The gaming was implemented as a part of a neuropsychological group intervention for children with confirmed deficits in attention or diagnosed ADHD. We present a final design of the game and associated gaming routines, explain anticipated health benefits of the gaming, outline how the gaming can be used for research and therapeutic purposes, and provide directions for future research. CCS CONCEPTS •Human-centered computing~Human computer interaction (HCI)~Interaction techniques~Gestural input•Human-centered computing~Interaction design~Interaction design process and methods~User centered design

LightSword: A Customized Virtual Reality Exergame for Long-Term Cognitive Inhibition Training in Older Adults

“…Hence, we could assume that our three difficulty settings worked well in aligning the exergame's challenge to the individual abilities. Our research findings were in line with Anguera's positive attitude towards the adaptive staircase difficulty, which was lacking in many studies on game design [8,41,64,72]. Our findings suggested it is a potential direction that assessing the participant's performance and setting dynamic increasing difficulty in future research.…”

“…Motivation and satisfaction are key factors in determining the effectiveness of gamified training [41]. When participants experience both interest and challenge in a game, they enter the flow state, leading to increased engagement and greater time and effort invested [25].…”

“…Additionally, in-game social interaction offers numerous benefits for older adults, including reducing feelings of loneliness, enhancing emotional well-being, fostering social engagement, providing cognitive stimulation, and encouraging sustained game participation [78,86,99]. Furthermore, real-time feedback and encouragement could provide a sense of achievement and fulfillment in older adults [41]. All these elements should be seamlessly incorporated into our game design to motivate older adults.…”

The Effectiveness of Serious Games as Digital Therapeutics for Enhancing the Abilities of Children with ADHD: A Systematic Literature Review (Preprint)

“…The multiplayer game 'PigScape' supports co-located gameplay, meaning that children play in pairs. This setup aims to create a learning environment in which children can support each other and enhance their social interactions and communication skills [63]. In particular, 'ADDventurous Rhythmical Planet' offers the option to play alone or in collaboration with others, employing a multi-user mode that fosters teamwork and communication.…”

“…17% (2/12) of the studies aimed at enhancing children's emotion regulation [39,56], viewed as integrating cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control. Another 17% (2/12) of the studies focused on improving Hyperactivity-Impulsivity symptoms with counter-intuitive game rules designed to stimulate impulsive responses, requiring players to inhibit these responses to succeed, and the game's difficulty can be adjusted based on the child's progress [57,63]. The remaining 3 studies reported synthesizing improvements in executive function through multiple mini-games [41,48,58].…”