Perceived Stress and Cfognition Function Quantification in a Scary Video Game: An Electroencephalogram Features and Biochemical Measures

Hamed Aliyari; Sahar Golabi; Hedayat Sahraei; Mohammad Sahraei; Behrouz Minaei-Bidgoli; Mohammad Reza Daliri; Reza Hazrati; Hamed Tadayyoni; Masoomeh Kazemi

doi:10.32598/bcn.2022.3811.1

Perceived Stress and Cfognition Function Quantification in a Scary Video Game: An Electroencephalogram Features and Biochemical Measures

Basic Clin Neurosci. 2023 Mar-Apr;14(2):297-309. doi: 10.32598/bcn.2022.3811.1. Epub 2023 Mar 1.

Authors

Hamed Aliyari¹, Sahar Golabi², Hedayat Sahraei³, Mohammad Sahraei⁴, Behrouz Minaei-Bidgoli⁵, Mohammad Reza Daliri⁶, Reza Hazrati⁷, Hamed Tadayyoni⁸, Masoomeh Kazemi³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre at Dallas, Dallas, United States.
² Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran.
³ Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran.
⁵ Department of Computer Engineering, School of Computer Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.
⁶ Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.
⁷ CERVO Brain Research Center, Laval University, Quebec, Canada.
⁸ Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

Introduction: Video games affect the stress system and cognitive abilities in different ways. Here, we evaluated electrophysiological and biochemical indicators of stress and assessed their effects on cognition and behavioral indexes after playing a scary video game.

Methods: Thirty volunteers were recruited into two groups as control and experimental. The saliva and blood samples were collected before and after intervention (watching/playing the scary game for control and experimental groups respectively). To measure cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) levels, oxytocin (OT), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plasma levels, dedicated ELISA kits were used. Electroencephalography recording was done before and after interventions for electroencephalogram (EEG)-based emotion and stress recognition. Then, the feature extraction (for mental stress, arousal, and valence) was done. Matrix laboratory (MATLAB) software, version 7.0.1 was used for processing EEG-acquired data. The repeated measures were applied to determine the intragroup significance level of difference.

Results: Scary gameplay increases mental stress (P<0.001) and arousal (P<0.001) features and decreases the valence (P<0.001) one. The salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase levels were significantly higher after the gameplay (P<0.001 for both). OT and BDNF plasma levels decreased after playing the scary game (P<0.05 for both).

Conclusion: We conclude that perceived stress considerably elevates among players of scary video games, which adversely affects the emotional and cognitive capabilities, possibly via the strength of synaptic connections, and dendritic thorn construction of the brain neurons among players.

Highlights: The mental stress level increases in players of scary video games.The salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase levels are significantly higher after the scary gameplay.Plasma levels of oxytocin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor decrease after the scary gameplay.The arousal and valence features increase in players of scary video game.Cognitive capabilities are adversely affected by the scary gameplay.

Plain language summary: Nowadays, video games have become an important part of human life at different ages. Therefore, assessing their effects (improving and/or damaging) on cognition and behavior is important for understanding how they affect the nervous system. The results of such studies can be used to design a variety of games in the future in a way that minimizes the harmful side effects of video games on human cognitive functions and maximizes their beneficial effects.

Keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Cognition; Cortisol; Oxytocin; Salivary alpha-amylase; Scary video game; Stress.