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. 2015 Jul;6(3):193-201.

The Effects of Fifa 2015 Computer Games on Changes in Cognitive, Hormonal and Brain Waves Functions of Young Men Volunteers

Hamed Aliyari  1 , Masoomeh Kazemi  2 , Elaheh Tekieh  2 , Maryam Salehi  2 , Hedayat Sahraei  2 , Mohammad Reza Daliri  3 , Hassan Agaei  2 , Behrouz Minaei-Bidgoli  4 , Reza Lashgari  3 , Nahid Srahian  2 , Mohammad Mehdi Hadipour  2 , Mostafa Salehi  5 , Asghar Ranjbar Aghdam  6
Affiliations

The Effects of Fifa 2015 Computer Games on Changes in Cognitive, Hormonal and Brain Waves Functions of Young Men Volunteers

Hamed Aliyari et al. Basic Clin Neurosci. 2015 Jul.

Abstract

Introduction: Computer games have attracted remarkable attentions in general publics with different cultures and their effects are subject of research by cognitive neuroscientists. In the present study, possible effects of the game Fifa 2015 on cognitive performance, hormonal levels, and electroencephalographic (EEG) signals were evaluated in young male volunteers.

Methods: Thirty two subjects aged 20 years on average participated mutually in playing computer game Fifa 2015. Identification information and general knowledge about the game were collected. Saliva samples from the contestants were obtained before and after the competition. Perceptive and cognitive performance including the general cognitive health, response delay, attention maintenance, and mental fatigue were measured using PASAT test. EEG were recorded during the play using EEG device and analyzed later using QEEG. Simultaneously, the players' behavior were recorded using a video camera. Saliva cortisol levels were assessed by ELISA kit. Data were analyzed by SPSS program.

Results: The impact of playing computer games on cortisol concentration of saliva before and after the game showed that the amount of saliva plasma after playing the game has dropped significantly. Also the impact of playing computer games on mental health, before and after the game indicated that the number of correct answers has not changed significantly. This indicates that sustained attention has increased in participants after the game in comparison with before that. Also it is shown that mental fatigue measured by PASAT test, did not changed significantly after the game in comparison to before that. The impact of game on changes in brain waves showed that the subjects in high activity state during playing the game had higher power of the EEG signals in most of the channels in lower frequency bands in compared to normal state.

Discussion: The present study showed that computer games can positively affect the stress system and the perceptual-cognitive system. Even though this impact was not significant in most cases, the changes in cognitive and hormonal test and also in brain waves were visible. Hence, due to the importance of this matter, it is necessary to create control systems in selecting the types of games for playing.

Keywords: Cognitive; Cortisol; EEG; Saliva; Video Games.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Salivary cortisol concentration changes in the participants before and after the football computer game Fifa 2015 shows a significant decrease in cortisol concentration after the game in comparison with before the game (P<0.05).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The number of correct answers (Mental health) provided by the participants before and after the football computer game Fifa 2015 shows no significant changes.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The response speed in participants after computer football computer games Fifa 2015 increases significantly in comparison with before the game (P<0.05).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Sustained attention (the longest correct answer chain) in the participants after a football computer game Fifa 2015 increases in comparison with before the game, but this change is not statistically significant.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Mental fatigue (the longest wrong answer chain) in the participants, after a football computer game Fifa 2015 does not change significantly in comparison with before the game.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Brain mapping in normal condition during playing the computer game.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Brain mapping in the high activity condition during playing the computer game.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
The location of electrodes in Emotive recording system.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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