Print thisA Video Game to Enhance Cognitive Health in Older Adults
As people age, they lose some of their ability to sustain their attention and to focus their attention on their main task while ignoring distractions. This study aims to improve these and other related cognitive skills by using a driving game in which players practice paying attention to relevant information, such as traffic signs, and ignoring irrelevant information, such as billboards. The study monitors brain activity with electroencephalography (EEG), and observes eye position and game performance, in younger adults (ages 18 to 30) and older adults (ages 60 to 80) before and after six weeks of game play. The study assesses changes in cognitive ability, brain activity, and transfer of game-related skills to similar cognitive operations and activities that take place in daily life.
Publications
Johnston, J., Sheldon, L., & Massey, A.P. (2010). Influencing physical activity and healthy behaviors in college students: Lessons from an Alternate Reality Game. In Cannon-Bowers, J. and Bowers, C., Serious Game Design and Development: Technologies for Training and Learning. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Johnston, J.D. (2009, March). College Student Physical Activity and Health. Presented at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.
Johnston, J.D. (2009, October). Physical Activity and Health During the College Years. Presented at the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
Johnston, J.D., Massey, A.P., & Sheldon, L. (2009, June). Influencing Physical Activity Levels of College Students: Lessons from an Alternate Reality Game. Presented at Games for Health, Boston, MA.
Johnston, J.D., Massey, A.P., & Sheldon, L. (2010, November). Impact of a Game Based Intervention on Physical Activity Within the College Student Population. Presented at the American Public Health Association, Denver, CO.
Lyons, E.J. (2009, June). Criticisms of Exergaming. Presented at the Fifth Annual Games for Health Conference, Boston, MA.
Lyons, E.J., Tate, D.F., & Ward, D.S. (2009, October). A Pilot Study Examining Energy Expenditure and Enjoyment in Exercise vs. Music-Oriented Video Games Played by Young Adults. Presented at the Obesity Society Annual National Meeting, Washington, DC.
Lyons, E.J., Tate, D.F., Erickson, K.E., & Ward, D.S. (2009, April). The Effect of a Warm-up Video Game on Activity Levels During Nintendo Wii Game Play. Presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine 30th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions, Montreal, Canada.
Lyons, E.J., Tate, D.F., Erickson, K.E., Vaughn, A., & Ward, D.S. (2008, October). Energy Expenditure During Wii Sports Minigames in Overweight Children: Comparing Data Parameter Selection. Presented at the Obesity Society Annual National Meeting, Phoenix, AZ.
Massey, A.P., Johnston, J.D., & Sheldon, L. (2010, September). This is Not a (Physical Activity) Game: Designing Games for Health. Presented at Fun and Games, Leuven, Belgium.