Introduction: Computer games can change the personal emotional state, which in fact excite the brain stress system activity. In the present study, the effects of a commercial computer game playing in normal condition and in a mirror were investigated on cognitive function, salivary cortisol level and alpha-amylase, brain hemodynamic, and
EEG in normal volunteers was investigated.Materials and Methods: Thirty-two players (mean age, 20–25 years) participated in the experiments. Each gamer played the computer game on an LED monitor for 120 sec and then played indirectly through a mirror for the next 120 sec. Saliva samples were collected from all participants before and after the game to determine levels of cortisol and α-amylase.
EEG evaluated using an EMOTIV Epoc14 channel wireless electroencephalogram (EEG) system and brain homodynamic changes were measured by functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system during the game. Moreover, before and after the game completion, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) software examinations were performed for cognitive functions evaluations.Results: The results showed that all of the cognitive parameters evaluated by the PASAT software including general mental health, sustained attention, reaction time, and mental fatigue were improved after gaming in the mirror. The
EEG beta waves in the frontal and occipital cortexes tend to be coordinated when the participants played in the mirror, reflecting increased activity in these two parts of the brain cortex. The hemodynamic evaluation showed an increase in blood supply to the frontal cortex during the game compared to baseline, which was increased dramatically when the gamers played in the mirror. Salivary cortisol and α-amylase levels of the players decreased after they played in a mirror.Conclusion: These results indicate that gaming has a beneficial effect on attention and other cognitive functions when the gamers played in the mirror. In addition, these results reflect the efficacy of game playing in the mirror on brain activity and stress system suppression.