Playing Tetris decreases drug and other cravings in real world settings

Skorka-Brown, Jessica; Andrade, Jackie; Whalley, Ben; May, Jon

doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.07.020

Cited by 49 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Engaging in this visuospatial cognitive activity when memories are activated is proposed to help impede traumatic flashbacks in PTSD by interfering with memory consolidation (37). Preliminary findings have also shown promise for using Tetris to reduce cravings (44). …”

Section: Types Of Applied Gamesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serious Games and Gamification for Mental Health: Current Status and Promising Directions

et al. 2017

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Computer games are ubiquitous and can be utilized for serious purposes such as health and education. “Applied games” including serious games (in brief, computerized games for serious purposes) and gamification (gaming elements used outside of games) have the potential to increase the impact of mental health internet interventions via three processes. First, by extending the reach of online programs to those who might not otherwise use them. Second, by improving engagement through both game-based and “serious” motivational dynamics. Third, by utilizing varied mechanisms for change, including therapeutic processes and gaming features. In this scoping review, we aim to advance the field by exploring the potential and opportunities available in this area. We review engagement factors which may be exploited and demonstrate that there is promising evidence of effectiveness for serious games for depression from contemporary systematic reviews. We illustrate six major categories of tested applied games for mental health (exergames, virtual reality, cognitive behavior therapy-based games, entertainment games, biofeedback, and cognitive training games) and demonstrate that it is feasible to translate traditional evidence-based interventions into computer gaming formats and to exploit features of computer games for therapeutic change. Applied games have considerable potential for increasing the impact of online interventions for mental health. However, there are few independent trials, and direct comparisons of game-based and non-game-based interventions are lacking. Further research, faster iterations, rapid testing, non-traditional collaborations, and user-centered approaches are needed to respond to diverse user needs and preferences in rapidly changing environments.

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Section: Types Of Applied Gamesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serious Games and Gamification for Mental Health: Current Status and Promising Directions

et al. 2017

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“…It has been used in research to promote cognitive enhancement (e.g. Belchior et al, 2013; Okagaki & Frensch, 1994), treat amblyopia or ‘lazy eye’ (Li et al, 2013), dampen vividness, and emotionality of autobiographical memories (Engelhard, van Uijen, & van den Hout, 2010), reduce cravings (Skorka‐Brown, Andrade, & May, 2014; Skorka‐Brown, Andrade, Whalley, & May, 2015), prevent intrusive memories of psychological trauma (Holmes, James, Coode‐Bate, & Deeprose, 2009; Iyadurai et al, 2017; James et al, 2015; James, Lau‐Zhu, Tickle, Horsch & Holmes, 2016b), and lessen mania‐related mental images (Davies, Malik, Pictet, Blackwell, & Holmes, 2012). Little is currently known about the cognitive mechanisms underpinning the benefits of Tetris, but one hypothesis emerging from the clinical psychology literature is that it selectively taxes visuospatial working memory (WM; Holmes et al, 2009; James et al, 2015).…”

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confidence: 99%

Selective Association Between Tetris Game Play and Visuospatial Working Memory: A Preliminary Investigation

Lau‐Zhu

Holmes

Butterfield

et al. 2017

Applied Cognitive Psychology

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SummaryRecent experimental and clinical research has suggested that Tetris game play can disrupt maladaptive forms of mental imagery because Tetris competes for limited cognitive resources within visuospatial working memory (WM) that contribute to imagery. Whether or not Tetris performance is selectively associated with visuospatial WM remains to be tested. In this study, young adults (N = 46) completed six standardized measures indexing verbal and non‐verbal reasoning, verbal and visuospatial short‐term memory, and verbal and visuospatial WM. They also played Tetris. Consistent with the hypothesis that visuospatial WM resources support Tetris game play, there was a significant moderate positive relationship between Tetris scores and visuospatial WM performance but no association with other cognitive ability measures. Findings suggest that Tetris game play involves both storage and processing resources within visuospatial WM. These preliminary results can inform interventions involving computer games to disrupt the development of maladaptive visual imagery, for example, intrusive memories of trauma. © 2017 The Authors. Applied Cognitive Psychology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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“…A recent study found that playing Tetris decreased cravings for drugs, food, and activities, including gaming (SkorkaBrown, Andrade, Whalley, & May, 2015). Increasingly, K-12 schools are building in digital game-based learning.…”

Section: The Problem At Handmentioning

confidence: 99%