The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Gaming Behavior

Laura Ladekarl, Class of 2025 THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON MENTAL HEALTH AND GAMINGAs we got locked out of the world and got stuck inside, our computers became our escape. The impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was more than just shutdowns and quarantines, it impacted our behaviors and mental health. Specifically, there was an increase in depression, anxiety, and loneliness, along with an upswing … Continue reading The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Gaming Behavior

The Joystick of the Mind: The Quest of Battling Dementia

Author: Sajia Athai, Class of 2026 Figure 1. Pictures on a map representing memories. People often fear the likelihood of their relatives and friends struggling to remember them as they age. From diseases such as Alzheimer’s to dementia, patients all over the world often struggle with the detrimental impacts of memory loss and the inability to form new ones.  Previous experiments unveil the impact of … Continue reading The Joystick of the Mind: The Quest of Battling Dementia

Online Gaming: Is it a beneficial social space for everyone?

Author: Asher Agarwal, Class of 2027 Figure 1. A person playing Fortnite on a Nintendo Switch. Online gaming, an activity played with others via the internet, is popular across all ages, abilities, and genders. Recently, research has been delving into the positive effects of gaming, such as the correlation of online gaming with social well-being. Researchers from NTNU Social Research, the University of Agder, and … Continue reading Online Gaming: Is it a beneficial social space for everyone?

Touchscreen or Webcam VR? Different Virtual Reality Games Improve Motor Performance of Individuals with Genetic Ataxia Uniquely

Author: Asher Agarwal, Class of 2027 Figure 1. A child playing a game with a VR headset, reaching out for something in-game. Patients with ataxia present with poor balance and impaired motor coordination and control. Genetic ataxia (GA) is rare and varies greatly as many gene mutations can be responsible for it. Virtual reality has shown promising results as an enjoyable and effective rehabilitation method … Continue reading Touchscreen or Webcam VR? Different Virtual Reality Games Improve Motor Performance of Individuals with Genetic Ataxia Uniquely

The Heart-The Clock of the Human Body

Author: Sajia Athai, Class of 2026 Figure 1. Accurate measurements of a fluid model are critical to the development of medical device design. The vessels in the heart work like the hands of a clock. Sometimes the vessels become impacted, like a clock with a depleted battery. Patients with cardiovascular disease often fear the blood clotting mechanism called thrombosis because it can induce vascular injury … Continue reading The Heart-The Clock of the Human Body

Video Games: A New Way to Facilitate Cognitive Development in Students with Learning Disabilities

Author: Sean Krivitsky, Class of 2026 Figure 1. Image of letter tiles spelling out “Learning Disability” According to The Treetop ABA Therapy, approximately 1 in 7 individuals worldwide possess a learning disability and it is important to acknowledge and address these learning differences to facilitate their learning and development (1). Recently, video games have become far more prevalent worldwide, and a series of research examining … Continue reading Video Games: A New Way to Facilitate Cognitive Development in Students with Learning Disabilities

Mastering the Map: The Role of Gaze Movement in League of Legends

Author: Tiffany Ang, Class of 2025 Figure 1: A Competitive League of Legends Team in Action Gaze movement refers to the motion of a visual focal point and is essential for understanding perceptual-cognitive processing. Fixation, a specific aspect of gaze movement, plays a crucial role in processing visual information, as the majority of the visual experience is constructed during fixation. Dr. Jeong and colleagues at … Continue reading Mastering the Map: The Role of Gaze Movement in League of Legends

Surgery Unlocked: Revolutionizing Surgical Training Through Gaming

Author: Tiffany Ang, Class of 2025 Figure 1: Healthcare professionals use virtual reality simulations to practice dexterity and visual-spatial skills for medical procedures to boost confidence and mitigate knowledge gaps.  Gaming science is increasingly integrated into medical education to enhance learning and skill development. Games inherently include gamification elements, such as point systems, that foster active learning and have the potential to improve knowledge retention … Continue reading Surgery Unlocked: Revolutionizing Surgical Training Through Gaming

Efforts To Prevent Students from “Gaming” the System

Author: Ishmam, Class of 2025 Figure: “Gaming” the system has become a rising phenomenon of technology-based learning programs in education Educational systems have started using new technology to keep up with the evolution of our learning spaces and culture. The surge in Computer-Based Learning Platforms (CBLPs) has also resulted in a rise in students “gaming the system”, a phenomenon that exploits system mechanics to progress … Continue reading Efforts To Prevent Students from “Gaming” the System

Virtual Reality: An Effective Tool for Safety Training

Author: Amal Bilal, Class of 2028 Figure 1: A man using a virtual reality headset. Safety training is an important tool that helps prevent accidents by enhancing one’s ability to identify and analyze risks while performing dangerous tasks. Typically delivered through safety manuals, videos, lectures, slideshows, and drills, safety training methods have several limitations: they do not provide feedback to participants, have difficulties illustrating realistic … Continue reading Virtual Reality: An Effective Tool for Safety Training

Algae Consumption: An Unexpected Boost to Video Game Performance

Author: Sean Krivitsky, Class of 2026 Figure 1. Image depicting various marine algae species, namely Chorda filum and Cladophora glomerata. Video games have always been considered by many as just a trivial hobby. Yet, in recent years, there has been a rise in the popularity of video game streaming, especially in competitive settings. Consequently, in such competitions, players need to prioritize factors like attentiveness and … Continue reading Algae Consumption: An Unexpected Boost to Video Game Performance

Duty Calls: Video Games as an Outlet for Reflection and Fulfilling Desires

Author: Ishmam Khan, Class of 2025 Figure 1: Social media is a common outsource for video game discussion; Reddit is the most popular source for these discussion topicsCall of Duty is an iconic first-person shooter video game published by Activision Studios. The game is known for its dynamic gunplay, innovative realistic graphics, and its gritty portrayal of war. However, Call of Duty has a contentious … Continue reading Duty Calls: Video Games as an Outlet for Reflection and Fulfilling Desires