The Neuroscience of Gaming

Erin RobinsonIndependent Game DeveloperLivelyivy.com

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Why neuroscience?• I earned my

bachelor’s degree in psychology

• I did my honors thesis on rat brains

• I used to be a research assistant

• Two of my games take place in laboratories

Research • Reviewed more than 5 dozen

academic papers

• Found 6 main categories of contemporary research

• I also found some examples of “bad science” in the media

Brain Imaging Studies

Therapeutic Benefits of Video Games

Are Games Bad for Young People?

Games Improve Visual Perception

Gaming Addictions

The Truly Weird

6 Main Areas of Research

Brain Imaging Studies

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

Video Games HaveTherapeutic Benefits

Burn patients

Stroke rehabilitation

“Silver Gamers”

Bad Science #1

Games Improve Visual & Auditory Perception

Bad Science #2

Are Video GamesBad for Young People?

The Third Variable Problem:If two events are related, one

doesn’t necessarily cause the other

Gaming Addiction(Overuse)

“Addiction is not about what you DO, but what you DON'T DO because of the replacement of the addictive behavior.”– Erin Hoffman, Game designer/journalist

The Truly Weird

Bad Science #3

Thank you! 谢谢

Erin RobinsonLivelyivy.com