Video game plays with
the mind, lowers stress
Photo credit: Chantale Arsenault/MindHabits
Inc. |
Anti-stress
video game turns frowns upside down
MONTREAL — A video game designed to help your patients
cope with anxiety has the added bonus of reducing levels
of the stress hormone cortisol by 17%, according to
a study in October's Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology.
Developed by McGill researchers,
the Matrix video game involves a series of exercises
that train the mind to focus on positive feedback rather
than perceived social criticisms. In one game players
are asked to click on the one happy face among a horde
of frowning faces as fast as possible. The idea is that
this should help patients learn to accentuate the positive.
The researchers tried their game
out on a group of telemarketers. After playing the game,
the call centre staffers experienced higher self-esteem,
lower cortisol and improved work performance. With its
stress-reduction benefit established, the study authors
expect it will help treat some forms of social anxiety,
like fear of public speaking or meeting new people,
and even help athletes cope with performance anxiety.
The McGill researchers have formed
a company, MindHabits, to market and sell the Matrix
and their MindHabits Trainer game. Patients can try
and buy the games on their website (www.mindhabits.com).
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