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Gamasutra reports on research results just released by the WJU in West Virginia: certain types of video games can significantly distract patients or subjects from feeling pain.
The research tested six types of game on the subjects: action, puzzle, arcade, fighting, sports, and boxing. The genres most effective in distracting subjects from pain were the sports and boxing games; plus, curiously, sports games were also the genre to produce the most anger in the subject—not action or fighting, as might have been presumed.
"These gaming distractions may be most helpful in children and young adults undergoing painful procedures or suffering from chronic pain, as these individuals comprise the largest gamer demographics," said director of undergraduate research Dr. Bryan Radenbush.
It's interesting to see that the emotional responses being measured by the study are reported as "anger" and "frustration." What should we take from this? That games produce negative feelings, which are an effective pain distraction? Or that the negative feelings produced by certain gaming situations are an effective pain distration, and positive feelings aren't—and are therefore not reported?
Enquiring minds want to know!
Games Can Reduce Pain [Gamasutra]
