Playing Action Video Games a Key to Cognitive Enhancement

Abstract

In this paper, we aim to analyse the impact of training on improvement in cognitive abilities and performance of the subjects playing single player action video game. Recent research indicates that playing Action video games improve cognitive abilities. However no study has exploited the novel technique, Empirical Mode Decomposition in the field of action video games. Empirical mode decomposition was used to extract various features by decomposing EEG data into intrinsic mode functions. Intrinsic mode functions were used to calculate linear features like standard deviation, phase and energy. K- Nearest Neighbour & Linear Discriminant Analysis classifiers were used to classify the subject based on the changes in features extracted due to the impact of training. Psychological tests conducted before and after the training, positively affirm that training improves cognitive abilities like reaction time and reduces stress level.