Finnish Doctors Using Video Games To Treat ADHD
from the brainwork dept
As we all know, video games have traditionally been for confusing news organizations, committing virtual war-crimes, and turning the otherwise sweet, virtuous children of the western world into gun-toting real-life Duke Nukems with no regard for human life or decency. Also, turn that damn techno music down. Anyway, much to my surprise, it turns out the past time my parents were constantly telling me would rot away my brain may actually help the brains of those suffering from ADHD.
A group of doctors in Finland are experimenting with electronic games to help those suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder address and manage its symptoms.
The idea isn’t totally out of the blue. The University of Helsinki is well known for its neuroscience, with researchers already investigating how brain activity changes when people do different things. Scientists there have already tinkered around with game play, checking out local Helsinki production Angry Birds to test why the game was so addictive, and it's all part of a push by Finnish developers to build games that do good.Using some fairly simple games, such as what appears to be an Asteroids clone called AstroComet, along with some head wear technology designed to study neuroplasticity, a regimen of these games is being used to alter brain function in a way that alleviates the symptoms of ADHD. It's a tantalizing thought, given the now common perception of too many children being on too many drugs these days. If doctors could replace a regimen of mind-altering drugs, which children often hate taking, with a regimen of mind-training targeted video games that are fun enough that kids want to play them, it might end up being as or more effective with a higher adoption rate by the patient.
But using games to change people’s brains for health reasons is an ambitious and relatively new concept. Still, Helsinki has the scientists and the gaming companies—Angry Birds developer Rovio is just one—to give the idea a proper look. Now, researchers also have cash: Tapio's company Mental Capital Care received 790,000 euro in funding from Finnish investment board Tekes last year to test out a game designed to cure the symptoms of ADHD.
And, lest you think this is some kind of attempt to cram cookie-cutter games into the treatment plans for everyone, the games are highly tuned for each individual. They have their brainwaves studied over the course of their natural routine via a headset called the Emotiv, an EEG cap that functions like a mobile MRI, and then the researchers study the EEG output to tailor the game to each patient.
“We start the gaming treatment by analyzing the person’s brains, and defining the areas of the brain which are too active or not active enough,” said Tapio. “And then we create a gaming plan that will stimulate those areas of the brain.” The game is tuned to make the tasks accomplishable by thinking in a certain way—a desirable way, from the doctor's point of view. But it’s more than just concentrating.So sorry, kids, but we're still a ways away from being able to tell parents, girlfriends, or boyfriends that Grand Theft Auto is actually helping our brains to function better, but it's important to remember that for all the evils some claim digital games are responsible for, they aren't the evil panacea older generations occasionally claim. They can do good as well.
“It’s not only the activity in brain areas we are trying to affect but also the kind of activity: the different wavelengths, the different types of electromagnetic action—it can’t be too high or too low. We set a goal which will be optimal for the patient,” [research director Ville] Tapio said. “And after we have created an optimal profile for the patient, he will start the gaming and get his brain active to the optimal levels.”
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Filed Under: adhd, finland, video games
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Till the singularity
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It's "past time" that you learned either "pastime" or "pass-time".
Didn't we go round on that on conjugating "pass" once before? And you insisted your usage was correct?
Anyhoo, one can't extrapolate palliatives for the brain-damaged into positives for the unafflicted, any more than chemotherapy is at all desirable except with severe cancer. If you hadn't rotted your brain with violent video games and utterly wasted those hours instead of doing something even slightly uplifting -- tiddlywinks would have been better than pretending to murder people -- you'd have the capacity to see that.
Techdirt! When tired of substance, get fluffed here!
12:33:10[n-090-1]
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Hold the phone...
Perhaps there's a different perception to ADHD that should be explored.
One of the people I follow would be Thom Hartmann who has a number of books on the issue of ADHD. He explains it to be a gene that people are born with.
It may explain the types of hypersensitivity that certain individuals have in different arenas to which they have to learn how to adapt to a different environment to one that our omnivorous ancestors grew up in.
It would be very intriguing if they picked up the research and saw if it worked for what they needed it for.
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Re: It's "past time" that you learned either "pastime" or "pass-time".
I'm just another lonely guy with nothing better to do his time.
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Re:
DMCAed, you fuckwad!
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Good thing no one tried. Except for you that is.
N.
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Re: Re:
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Arrr fuck you
Too bad that type of thing is almost taboo these days because it worked wonders.
Fucked up in school > Got my ass beat > Stopped fucking up at school > Success
Fucked up at home > Got my ass beat > Stopped fucking up at home > Success
Fucked up in public > Got my ass beat > Stopped fucking up in public > Success
Stole a 50 cent candy bar when I was six > Got my ass beat half to death then forced to tell them what I did and to top of it I was forced to work at the store for the day > Never did that again because I learned my lesson and then some. > Success
Shit, I'm grown and the thought of stealing anything scares me half to death and my grandpa has been dead for 15 years.
Not saying violence is the answer, but it sure does work good, very good. The only thing I was never disciplined for is my dirty mouth, but my family are all sailors.
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Re: It's "past time" that you learned either "pastime" or "pass-time".
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Dammit, how many times must I say "speak not of the evil one lest you summon him" until you learn?
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This isn't newsworthy
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Ender's Game
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http://gameshiki.com/index.php?id=68
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