Project: EVO — Video Game or Medical Treatment for Cognition Healthcare?
In September 2013, an article in Nature published a finding on how video game training could enhance cognitive control in older adults. The research was conducted by Neurologist Adam Gazzaley and his lab Akili, at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The research started with a project that Gazzaley and his team had been working on since 2008, “NeuroRacer” — a video game where the player swerves around cars while simultaneously picking out road signs. The game may look like a simple driving sim, but trial data suggests that by tuning and adjusting settings to engage the brain, it can somehow reflects player’s deeper cognitive pattern. After being tested on multiple subjects, NeuroRacer is believed to be not only able to seek relieve cognitive deficits, but also to enhance memory and multi-tasking skills in older adults. [2]
Prof. Gazzaley is now focusing recognition issue in children — his lab presented data from a pilot study of its video game, Project: EVO, that showed some positive results in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The development and algorithm were based on models of NeuroRacer.
Evo is now seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the game. If it gets that government stamp, it might become a sort of cognitive Lipitor or Viagra, a game that your doctor can prescribe for your aging mind. [1]
Lab researchers believe that EVO should be a medical equipment for treating ADHD, instead of a virtual video game in app stores. In the past years research relating video games and brain function has caused attention in digital consumer market. Lumosity, Cogmed, Posit Science and CogniFit are leading companies in this emerging industry. Nevertheless, most companies have not bid FDA’s approval for their products as medical equipment due to incomplete trials.[3] If EVO successfully gets the approval, it would be interesting to know how people perceive video games as “medical treatment”, compared to traditional plans? How will the doctors prescribe on doses? Etc.
Links
[1] Can Video Games Fend Off Mental Decline? — New York Times
[2] “NeuroRacer” Creator Gazzaley Seeks FDA Blessing for Brain Training Game
