Computer game reduces issues associated with AD/HD in children in China

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-06/sp-cgr060515.php

Public Release: 9-Jun-2015
SAGE Publications

Children diagnosed with AD/HD can improve their behavior and social interactions in the classroom by playing a computer game that exercises their concentration, finds new research out today. The study marks the 1000th article published in SAGE Open, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal launched in 2011 which covers the full spectrum of the social and behavioral sciences and the humanities.

The software studied in the research syncs with a wireless headband that monitors brainwaves during game-play, and works by adjusting the level of difficulty and scoring system in order to target and train the attention control, working memory, and impulse-control. This neurocognitive training was administered in case studies of five elementary school students in China and resulted in overall improved behavior, assignment completion, and relationships with peers and teachers.

"The present study implies that the neurocognitive training can result in broader and more socially meaningful outcomes than improvement of AD/HD symptoms," wrote study authors Han Jiang and Stuart Johnstone. "Two reasons possibly explain the side effect. First, the increased attentive behavior in class and improved quality of schoolwork improved these children's social status. Second, game-driven and task-directed features of the training increased the children's confidence in doing tasks."

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