By Sajia Athai, Class of 2026

For the past decade, homes have transformed into vibrant arenas of gaming with sounds of clicking controllers and the colors of OLED screens. Parents often feel concerned about the spike in new video games as companies release new accessories and skins for players to customize. Worried about the possibility of addiction, many forget the positive outcomes that games offer, including problem-solving skills and new ways of thinking. Recent research unveils a new chapter of explorations that has yet to be touched upon: improvements in cognitive function and synaptic plasticity in cortical circuits.

Patients suffering from acquired brain injuries (ABIs) often struggle with daily routines, finding it difficult to remember tasks or focus on to-do lists. To tackle these difficulties, researchers Truls Johansen and colleagues at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital aim to expand developmental skills and improve cortical thinking through virtual reality games. VR games incorporate real-life attributes such as puzzles and characters to induce analytical skills, offering a tool that may assist patients in recalling information.

Researchers suggest that screened activities in VR games can stimulate changes in neurobiological behavior by forming neural clusters that promote new pathways in connection and communication with the environment. These neural clusters, formed by problem-solving exercises, establish metastable dynamics that act as the equilibrium markers in learning circuits and memory systems. Using this knowledge, scientists aim to expose ABI patients to VR games to help induce metastable dynamics that maintain information retrieval and storage.

The study involved a protocol measuring two groups: one VR training and one control group. After several 5-week periods, the first ten participants took questionnaires that inquired about their participation in VR games. The rhythm-based VR game, BeatSaber, challenges players with colored blocks that match rhythm beats. As the game continues, the blocks start appearing faster, and skills in processing, attention span, and working memory are tested. Along with these skills, the game provides accessibility via distinct platforms. Thirty-minute sessions are performed to categorize and observe data as “descriptions” or “themes.” These exercises form metastable dynamics that act as self-fueling mechanisms to monitor activity near the threshold of memory reactivation.

While new findings continue to be identified, researchers remain hopeful that the neurobiological model implemented in VR games will help treat ABI patients. These games can promote skills in communication, collaboration, and problem-solving to assist ABI patients in daily tasks. The VR game poses a valuable asset to the future of regenerative medicine.

Figure 1: Adults of varying ages with active brain injuries have found that Beatsaber, a VR game designed to test processing skills, memory recognition, and attention span, helps improve their quality of life day to day. 

Works Cited

1. Johansen, T., Matre, M., Løvstad, M., Lund, A., Martinsen, A. C., Olsen, A., Becker, F., Brunborg, C., Ponsford, J., Spikman, J., Neumann, D., & Tornås, S. (2024). Virtual reality as a method of cognitive training of processing speed, working memory, and sustained attention in persons with acquired brain injury: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Current Controlled Trials in Cardiovascular Medicine, 25(1), 340–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-024-08178-7
2. Image Retrieved From: https://www.pexels.com/photo/elderly-couple-sitting-on-couch-playing-video-games-5699397/