Two-play game: Playing casual video games with outgroup members reduces prejudice towards that outgroup

Video games have traditionally held a dubious reputation in the media and have been linked to many antisocial behaviors. A large amount of research has borne out some of these concerns, linking video games with addiction and particularly aggression. However, recent work in this area has begun to examine the positive aspects of video gaming. In this work, we examine how playing casual, low-involvement video games with an outgroup member may reduce prejudice. In Study 1, participants played cooperatively or competitively with a (trivial) outgroup member or alone. In Studies 2 and 3, a meaningful social identity was used: students’ university affiliation. Participants played either cooperatively with a rival university student against the computer, or alone. Analyses of all three studies showed that attitudes toward the outgroup were more positive after playing with an outgroup member compared with control conditions. How these findings may be applied to real world groups and extensions for future research are then discussed

Action video game training reduces the Simon Effect

Abstract A number of studies have shown that training on action video games improves various aspects of visual cognition including selective attention and inhibitory control. Here, we demonstrate that action video game play can also reduce the Simon Effect, and, hence, may have the potential to improve response selection during the planning and execution of goal-directed action. Non-game-players were randomly assigned to one of four groups; two trained on a first-person shooter game (Call of Duty) on either Microsoft Xbox or Nintendo DS, one trained on a visual training game for Nintendo DS, and a control group who received no training. Response times were used to contrast performance before and after training on a behavioral assay designed to manipulate stimulus-response compatibility (the Simon Task). The results revealed significantly faster response times and a reduced cost of stimulusresponse incompatibility in the groups trained on the first-person-shooter game. No benefit of training was observed in the control group or the group trained on the visual training game. These findings are consistent with previous evidence that action game play elicits plastic changes in the neural circuits that serve attentional control, and suggest training may facilitate goal-directed action by improving players' ability to resolve conflict during response selection and execution

How prior experience, cognitive skills and practice are related with eye-hand span and performance in video gaming

Research has shown that performance in visual domains depends on domain-specific cognitive and perceptual adaptations that result from extensive practice. However, less is known about processes and factors that underpin the acquisition of such adaptations. The present study investigated how prior experience, cognitive skills, task difficulty and practice effect eye-hand span (EHS) and performance in video gaming. Thirty-three participants played a platformer video game in a pre-test/practice/post-test experiment. Eye movements and keypresses were recorded. The results show that a short practice period improved performance but did not increase EHS. Instead, EHS was related to task difficulty. Furthermore, while EHS correlated with initial performance, this effect seemed to diminish after practice. Cognitive skills (concentration endurance, working memory, mental flexibility and executive functioning) predicted performance in some parts of the experiment. The study offers insights into the early development of visual adaptations and performance

A Reduction in Video Gaming Time Produced a Decrease in Brain Activity

This study examines whether a decrease in brain development is observable after players have reduced their video gaming time over a period of 1 year. Both video gaming experts and non-experts were recruited, whose resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data were collected at the beginning and the end of the study. Immediately after the first scan, the participants were instructed to spend no more than 3 h on video gaming weekly for 1 year. The results showed decreased self-reported video gaming skills and decreased amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in the experts at the end of the study, demonstrating that a reduction in video gaming time over a period of 1 year produced a decrease in brain development. The non-experts served as a control group and had no significant changes. The findings support the adaptive effect of video gaming experience on brain and cognitive development

Neural Correlates of Enhanced Visual Attentional Control in Action Video Game Players: An Event-Related Potential Study

Action video game players (AVGPs) outperform non-action video game players (NAVGPs) on a range of perceptual and attentional tasks. Although several studies have reported neuroplastic changes within the frontoparietal networks of attention in AVGPs, little is known about possible changes in attentional modulation in low-level visual areas. To assess the contribution of these different levels of neural processing to the perceptual and attentional enhancements noted in AVGPs, visual event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 14 AVGPs and 14 NAVGPs during a target discrimination task that required participants to attend to rapid sequences of Gabor patches under either focused or divided attention conditions. AVGPs responded faster to target Gabors in the focused attention condition compared with the NAVGPs. Correspondingly, ERPs to standard Gabors revealed a more pronounced negativity in the time range of the parietally generated anterior N1 component in AVGPs compared with NAVGPs during focused attention. In addition, the P2 component of the visual ERP was more pronounced in AVGPs than in NAVGPs over the hemisphere contralateral to the stimulus position in response to standard Gabors. Contrary to predictions, however, attention-modulated occipital components generated in the low-level extrastriate visual pathways, including the P1 and posterior N1, showed no significant group differences. Thus, the main neural signature of enhanced perceptual and attentional control functions in AVGPs appears linked to an attention-dependent parietal process, indexed by the anterior N1 component, and possibly to more efficient higher-order perceptual processing, indexed by the P2 component

Rehabilitative devices for a top-down approach

In recent years, neurorehabilitation has moved from a "bottom-up" to a "top down" approach. This change has also involved the technological devices developed for motor and cognitive rehabilitation. It implies that during a task or during therapeutic exercises, new "top-down" approaches are being used to stimulate the brain in a more direct way to elicit plasticity-mediated motor re-learning. This is opposed to "Bottom up" approaches, which act at the physical level and attempt to bring about changes at the level of the central neural system. Areas covered: In the present unsystematic review, we present the most promising innovative technological devices that can effectively support rehabilitation based on a top-down approach, according to the most recent neuroscientific and neurocognitive findings. In particular, we explore if and how the use of new technological devices comprising serious exergames, virtual reality, robots, brain computer interfaces, rhythmic music and biofeedback devices might provide a top-down based approach. Expert commentary: Motor and cognitive systems are strongly harnessed in humans and thus cannot be separated in neurorehabilitation. Recently developed technologies in motor-cognitive rehabilitation might have a greater positive effect than conventional therapies

Применение компьютерных игровых технологий для развития регуляторных функций дошкольников

Introduction. Computer applications are important for the development of preschoolers’ executive functions. This paper is the first study to overview foreign studies of computer game-based methods for the development of executive functions. Theoretical Basis. The study describes (a) A. Miyake’s model of executive functions and (b) the cultural-historical approach. Results. The study revealed the main reasons for the use and development of serious videogames. Their advantages over standard methods were as follows: (a) Some data indicated the developmental effect of the existing games. (b) Such a format of training tasks had a positive impact on motivation. (c) The game adapted flexibly to a trainee’s level. (d) Such tasks had a high ecological compatibility. The review analyzed the existing programs and applications for the development of preschoolers’ executive functions, which required the participation of parents or teachers in the process of training and organized peer interaction. The paper described the basic principles of creating serious games, which can not only adapt to the user’s development level, but also maintain motivation when training executive functions. The literature on the creation of serious video games showed the importance of a subject’s learning of certain sets of actions and their use in appropriate situations for the development of memory and inhibition. Timely actions were important for the development of cognitive flexibility. Discussion. The comparison of the analyzed computer game-based methods made it possible to distinguish the most significant features, which can develop executive functions at preschool age. The findings can be successfully used for evaluating the existing applications and creating new videogames, aimed at the development of executive functions.Введение. Авторами показывается актуальность использования и разработки компьютерных приложений для детей дошкольного возраста с целью развития регуляторных функций. В работе впервые представлен обзор зарубежных исследований, посвященных компьютерным игровым методам развития регуляторных функций. Теоретическое обоснование. В статье описывается модель регуляторных функций А. Мияке, а также культурно-исторический подход, на который опирались авторы при проведении теоретического исследования. Результаты. Данный раздел включает рассмотрение основных причин популярности использования и разработки развивающих компьютерных игр и их преимуществ перед стандартными методами: наличие данных о развивающем эффекте существующих игр, о положительном влиянии такого формата тренировочных заданий на мотивацию, возможность гибко адаптировать игру под уровень тренирующегося и более высокая экологичность выполняемых заданий. В обзоре проанализированы существующие программы и приложения по развитию регуляторных функций у детей дошкольного возраста, требующие участия родителей или воспитателей в процессе тренировки, а также направленные на организацию взаимодействия сверстников. Также в статье рассмотрены основные принципы создания развивающих игр, способных не только адаптироваться к уровню развития пользователя, но и поддерживать необходимую мотивацию во время тренировки регуляторных функций. В исследованиях, посвященных созданию развивающих видеоигр, подчеркивается значение заучивания испытуемым определенных наборов действий и применение их в соответствующей ситуации для развития памяти и процессов торможения, а также значимость заданий на скорость для развития когнитивной гибкости. Обсуждение результатов. Авторы сопоставляют проанализированные разработки в области компьютерных игровых методов и выделяют наиболее значимые черты, способные оказывать развивающее воздействие на регуляторные функции в дошкольном возрасте, что может стать основанием как для оценки уже имеющихся приложений, так и для разработки новых компьютерных видеоигр, направленных на развитие регуляторных функций

The next level : video gaming, cognition and motivation in surgical simulator training

Image guided surgery uses small incisions or existing entry ports of the body in order to decrease surgical trauma which will hopefully lead to less infections, complications and number of days needed in the hospital. It is associated with great difficulties and a steep learning curve due to several reasons such as inverted movements and 2D representation of the operating area. In order to excel in minimal invasive surgery a large amount of training is required which has spurred the rise of virtual reality (VR) surgical simulators offering a safe training environment with the possibility of customized scenarios and quantifiable feedback. Another advantage with VR simulators is easily conducted research due to objective assessment of performance and standardized task content and scenarios. Previous research has identified visual-spatial ability, the ability to mentally rotate and manipulate objects as well as visual working memory, the ability to hold visual information during a delay and recall that information, to be important for simulator training and performance. Video gaming experience has also been identified as an important background factor. This thesis consists of work derived from four studies that all take advantage of VR simulators as a tool for investigating which individual factors are needed for performance and training of minimal invasive surgery and whether or not they can be altered. In the first study the hypothesis was that the importance of visual-spatial ability (VSA) and visual working memory (VWM) would differ with different simulator task content. 25 subjects were tested for VSA, VWM and performance in three different simulators. A multivariate analysis showed that the importance differed; one task seemed to be more visually loaded than the others. That result was followed up in study II that examined whether it was possible to actually improve simulator performance by video game training and if the transfer effect differed according to simulator and video game task content. 30 subjects were matched and randomized into training with a 2D chess game or a 3D first person shooter game for five weeks, pre and post training subjects were tested with two different simulators. A control group consisting of 10 subjects was also tested. There was a transfer effect, surprisingly also from the 2D game. Suspicions about a general cognitive workload lead to the aim in study III that investigated whether simulator performance would predict written examinations results. 158 subjects were tested in a simulator and a written examination in basic surgery. There was a performanceexamination correlation in female but not male subjects, which lead to study IV that investigated the role of motivation for surgical performance. In study IV, 30 subjects were tested for motivation while training in a surgical simulator. Motivation as defined by the selfdetermination theory correlated only in male subjects to performance when highly motivated medical students were examined. It appeared to be less important for performance than visual spatial ability. Training in surgical simulators enhanced subjects’ interest in choosing surgery as a future work field. The thesis identifies the importance of certain background factors and suggests alternate means of minimal invasive training that will meet the requirements of tomorrow´s surgeons, taking surgical training to the next level

Literature Review: Learning Through Game-Based Technology Enhances Cognitive Skills

Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine that video games can have a variety of effects on players, including improving working memory, cognitive flexibility, planning, spatial memory, emotions, and recognition through Digital Game-Based Learning   Theoretical framework: Recent research has indicated positive outcomes for student performance and engagement in digital gaming in education with a significant impact on intrinsic motivation, game mechanics, and the learning process as a whole, with scientifically confirmed favourable consequences. DGBL is a recent creation, thus there is still a lot to research and discover about it.   Design/methodology/approach: This study's objective was to gather and evaluate all empirical studies on improving cognitive abilities through game technology that had been published between 2000 and 2023. The author discusses a number of earlier research to investigate how game-based learning affects the growth of cognitive skills. 75 journal articles and 10 conference papers are examined by the author. The author also looks at three books about game-based learning. The author condenses his investigations into 58 articles by contrasting the various research gaps and approaches. The 58 articles included in this study were chosen from 30 reputable journals and provided trustworthy information as well as empirical evidence for further examination of the results of the 58 studies. These papers all drew their information from reliable sources with high indexes.   Findings: According to the findings of this study, game-based learning should become an important tool and e-resource for future learning in universities, particularly in academic libraries. This research backs up previous findings that game based will play an important role in learning in the future.   Research, Practical & Social implications:  We Suggest that more studies on game-based learning need to be conducted in the future to produce an effective learning environment based on credible frameworks and ideas.   Originality/value: The results indicate that the number of publications is growing and a consistent research framework and procedures for conducting reliable video game research must be developed. When arbitrary information is necessary to advance toward the objective of the game; the context in which the game is used. The study conclusions may be used as a general guideline to create a game-based technology model by indulging all the game elements and through that game-based technology the user will be tested to understand the enhancement of cognitive ability. This study may present the reader with further intriguing study subjects