from the pong-playing-pays-perceptual-premiums dept.
Study: Video Game Players Show Enhanced Brain Activity, Decision-Making Skill:
Frequent players of video games show superior sensorimotor decision-making skills and enhanced activity in key regions of the brain as compared to non-players, according to a recent study by Georgia State University researchers.
The authors, who used functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) in the study, said the findings suggest that video games could be a useful tool for training in perceptual decision-making.
"Video games are played by the overwhelming majority of our youth more than three hours every week, but the beneficial effects on decision-making abilities and the brain are not exactly known," said lead researcher Mukesh Dhamala, associate professor in Georgia State's Department of Physics and Astronomy and the university's Neuroscience Institute.
"Our work provides some answers on that," Dhamala said. "Video game playing can effectively be used for training — for example, decision-making efficiency training and therapeutic interventions — once the relevant brain networks are identified."
[...] "These results indicate that video game playing potentially enhances several of the subprocesses for sensation, perception and mapping to action to improve decision-making skills," the authors wrote. "These findings begin to illuminate how video game playing alters the brain in order to improve task performance and their potential implications for increasing task-specific activity."
The study also notes there was no trade-off between speed and accuracy of response — the video game players were better on both measures.
"This lack of speed-accuracy trade-off would indicate video game playing as a good candidate for cognitive training as it pertains to decision-making," the authors wrote.
Journal Reference:
Timothy Jordana and Mukesh Dhamala, Video game players have improved decision-making abilities and enhanced brain activities [open], Neuroimage: Reports, 2, 3, 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2022.100112
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday July 13 2022, @11:32PM (14 children)
Sure, they can differentiate friend from foe quickly and make tactical decisions better, possibly even strategize for the game-world, but how does this decision making skill map to important real-life decisions like "should I vape with my friends, or not?", "Sure, I know how to use a condom, but if I insist on doing it now I may lose the moment and not get laid at all - what do I do here?", "Rent-a-Center for $100 per week, or save $400 and buy it outright?" and the all-important "paper or plastic?" at the checkout line?
As a deadly force carrying first responder, yes - I can see how video game training can build valuable real life skills (and there are quite a lot of real-life simulators used in law enforcement training today). But outside that and similar small niche slices of society, I don't think, for instance, that I want my retirement fund investment counselor having their decision making skills honed in DOOM.
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 4, Funny) by looorg on Thursday July 14 2022, @01:08AM
> ... I want my retirement fund investment counselor having their decision making skills honed in DOOM.
The UAC made enough money to build bases on Mars and have enough of a slush fund to invest in opening gates to hell, summoning demons and so much more. Just imagine what they would pick up from playing DOOM.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Reziac on Thursday July 14 2022, @02:38AM (7 children)
Playing DOOM made me more situationally-aware, especially when driving. Perhaps more interesting is that I noticed.
However, I question whether video games enhance the user's brain, or select for users who already have elevated brain activity.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by RS3 on Thursday July 14 2022, @03:13AM (6 children)
When I first saw the article I wondered cause / effect: maybe people who are already prone to "superior sensorimotor decision-making skills" enjoy playing the games. I mean, it kind of makes sense, I think. And the gameplaying probably enhances their responses, again, makes sense I think.
I rarely play games, and never video / Doom / first person stuff. I'd do driving / flight simulator if I had a sit-in cockpit. But I digress. I've always been extremely attentive and situationally aware when driving. I don't even like messing with the radio or HVAC controls if I have to look at them much.
Some years ago I was on a weekend trip with a bunch of friends. On the way home someone decided to stop at a large-scale game place and we played laser tag. I had never done it before, and never had any interest. I suited up, we formed some teams, etc. When the lights went down, blacklights and strobes turned on, and heavy-metal music blared, you'd have thought I became Rambo or something. I'll never forget the sudden burst of energy, quickness. I don't know who won, but I know I scored a ton of points. Point is, for me it's more about being physically in the actual environment, rather than some images on a screen. I have not tried VR goggles yet though...
(Score: 3, Funny) by Reziac on Thursday July 14 2022, @04:01AM (4 children)
Interesting way to discover that you still have good hunter genes :) If I hear a rattlesnake, I go into hunter-killer mode, kinda like that. Short on the physical memory for realworld sport, tho.
I've always been an attentive driver (likewise not interested in fiddling with other crap from behind the wheel, and I enjoy driving), but what I noticed coming over from DOOM was more awareness of what's coming at me from a non-frontal angle. Or more likely I already saw them but was not so aware that I did. It's a similar set of reflexes.
Never got into other games (try 'em occasionally, shrug, go back to DOOM and a very good map generator, so I'll never run out). Only flight sim I've tried was the Air Force trainer (they let attendees try it at some event Edwards AFB put on). Managed to get airborne, not too lost, and land again without making a crater. :)
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by RS3 on Thursday July 14 2022, @05:33AM (1 child)
I've always been interested in aviation. 1st job, small company, fairly wealthy owner had a good plane- Cessna P337H "Super Skymaster" [wikipedia.org]. I was probably in it 10+ times, long trips. His had everything- turbos, pressurized, autopilot, prop and wing leading edge heaters, trim tabs, retractable landing gear, on and on. Super practical. Cruise FL220, cruise speed 220 kt. So I got a good feel for flying. 20ish years ago I was out doing stuff with a girlfriend and stopped at a local small airport, inquiring if anyone took people up for sightseeing. Guy said, let's start your FAA flight log and do some actual flying. So I did about 1.5 hours, lots of touch-and-gos, power off glide in, high-bank turns (using rudder), etc. Talk about having to be very aware of everything around you! VFR of course. Some kind of radar would be nice. But yeah, I've always been very aware of stuff around me when driving. Deer are a problem around here. No craters yet. :)
(Score: 3, Informative) by Reziac on Thursday July 14 2022, @06:10AM
Yeah, always liked Mechanical Things That Fly. Took "Aviation Science" in high school (pretty much full ground school) but was never able to continue. Considered living at the incoming end of a commercial runway quite entertaining. (Okay, so we maxed out at a mere three 737s per day. But lots of cropdusters. At -45F a 737 sounds just like the Millennium Falcon!)
Hwy 93 south of Hamilton MT... averages 280 deer hit per DAY. Yikes!
"I drive Highway 93. Pray for me."
-- MT highway patrol bumper sticker
.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Freeman on Thursday July 14 2022, @03:08PM (1 child)
There are a few things that can get your attention and should.
Snake rattling its' tail.
Sound of someone racking a shotgun shell.
etc.
To more mundane things.
Sound of a drip, where there shouldn't be any. (Sure, maybe kiddo left the faucet on slightly. Or maybe, there's a puddle under the sink.)
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Thursday July 14 2022, @04:02PM
Very much so; excellent examples.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Freeman on Thursday July 14 2022, @03:38PM
I've not tried any of the Faculus (Now Maculus) headets. (Facebook/Meta) Only ever actually used the HTC Vive (original), but you can have a ton of fun with one.
It can immerse you in X world like no other game experience. Please be mindful of your surroundings, so you don't trip over a glass table, smash it, and die. Or anything else that, with a moment's thought, is easily avoided. As you will essentially be blinding yourself to the outside world. Though, the HTC Vive has a nifty mode that lets you use the camera to see obstacles. My camera hasn't functioned for a good long while though. Not sure, if it's my mangled cord. Or, if kiddo dropped the thing one too many times.
Fallout 4 VR and Skyrim VR are both great examples of what it can be. Not, because they are super awesome VR Games. It's, because they are open world games with a good bit of story and depth. That happens to be functionally okay in VR. I've never gotten into any of the Elder Scrolls games, but I must say this. Shooting fireballs from your hands in VR, is very satisfying. Fallout 4 VR, drops you in the middle of a Fallout post-apocalyptic wasteland world. I would say melee, would likely, kinda suck in F4VR, but I've never been big on melee in Fallout. Dead Island it isn't. In the event that you ever liked the side scrolling shooter Arcade kind of thing (in person or on an arcade machine or on a pc). You literally turn the entire world of Fallout into, pretty much the best version of that, I've ever seen. Also, there are some experiences that are nearly worth the price of entry just for the couple of minutes you get to do X thing. Helicopter + Brotherhood of Steel == Insanely Awesome. Sure, they were designed for an open world, Flat Screen experience. The difference is that they were designed to be an open world to begin with, unlike most computer games. The focus isn't on twitch reflexes (Most FPS games). It's designed where a 3D world, where you can spin any direction and just go. Which VR capitalizes on. In the event that you played any of the Wii FPS games that used the "gun controller", i.e. put your wii controllers into a plastic gun shaped holder. And you loved it. You will absolutely love Fallout 4 VR, if you can get used to the movement. You can do locomotion or teleport. I tried locomotion for a bit, but it's hard to get used to. Teleport style movement, just works. You still have action point limited movement, I.E. you start breathing heavy, etc. Also, uh, Power Armor is the bomb. While using Power Armor, I almost felt like I was playing MechWarrior in VR. As far as I understand it, Mods work with Fallout 4 VR, but are a little finicky to get working.
A VR headset driving game can be fun, but I have pretty much hated driving games. The last driving game I much cared for was one of the Very Old, classic Need for Speed games. Had a blast racing my brother and the handling just worked. Then again, maybe I've just not invested the $200+ on a Streeing Wheel and Pedals to make it a decent experience.
I could also see a VR headset being very interesting for a Flight Simulator type game. I have played a very basic flight simulator on my VR Headset (Think, Sopwith Inspired.) and it's a fairly fun little game. I could see a much more advanced style of Flight Simulator being an absolute blast.
The biggest issue I have with VR right now is that my new glasses frames barely fit inside the headset. So, I need to get new glasses, after I get another checkup, and then I'll probably buy a face wrap goggle pair of glasses, just for VR and playing with kiddo. I've been through 3 frames with my current set of lenses and I didn't cheap out on the frames.
The next biggest issue is that kiddo loves to play VR and I have one headset. Then, after that, is the after playing 3-4 hours of VR, it gets a bit hot/sweaty and you definitely feel the clunkiness of the HTC Vive. You can adjust it well enough with the straps, etc. to mitigate some of that. But, you're strapping a heat producing screen onto your face. It's just gonna be a little hot/sweaty after a while. Not to mention the fact that you will be moving your body a lot more than you do with a typical Mouse/Keyboard setup.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Interesting) by krishnoid on Thursday July 14 2022, @03:29AM
However much you consider the "nanny-state" has permeated our daily lives, I'm all for kids training any kind of multi-element decision-making/pro-con-evaluation/initiative-taking capabilities at any level (twitch and up), perhaps against a deadline. Then when they're in a new, possibly adrenaline-producing situation, at least they will be ready to follow a lead or work as part of a team rather than just handing off responsibility for risk analysis ("No it's ok, I don't need a condom, I promise I'll pull it out") or saying "hey, not my problem, I'm not getting involved".
Not the best option, but something is better than nothing. I wouldn't recommend applying your Amateur Surgeon [youtu.be] skills if you're assisting a paramedic, but at least you'll be very aware that the clock is ticking at an accident scene and can maybe clear the area so they can do their jobs. One non-twitch example of this is Dungeons and Dragons -- consider how many things you have to consider when trying to achieve a goal as part of a team, none of which you'd have any analog of real-life exposure to until you're a couple years into your career.
(Score: 2) by mhajicek on Thursday July 14 2022, @05:22AM (3 children)
Spend my resources on something I want now, or on something that will get me more resources in the long run?
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 3, Touché) by JoeMerchant on Thursday July 14 2022, @01:29PM (2 children)
>get me more resources in the long run?
How many twitch players consider timespans of a month or more, even an hour or more?
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday July 14 2022, @05:11PM (1 child)
Are you talking about twitch streamers? Or gamers with twitch reflexes? In the event that you're talking about gamers with twitch reflexes, that's just rude. In the event that you're talking about Twitch streamers, then I would ask the following. Are they professionals? Are they the average teenager? Etc, etc. Likely, if you're talking about a teenager (or younger). They just don't have the same concerns that someone who is trying make ends meet, does. In the event they are professional Twitch streamers. They may think a lot more about the future than you think.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday July 14 2022, @05:50PM
> In the event that you're talking about gamers with twitch reflexes, that's just rude.
Then the article is also rude? Because we're both referring to sensorimotor decision-making skills.
As for Twitch streamers, that's a whole other ball of twine.
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 3, Touché) by crafoo on Thursday July 14 2022, @01:24AM (1 child)
You know what else works? Going out into the world and doing things. You get the cognitive boost AND physical boost.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday July 14 2022, @05:14PM
Perhaps, but in the event that you fall off a 50ft cliff. Due to a poor decision. You are going to be bearing a lot more consequences than your average gamer.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"