Brain-control video game helps ADHD kids

A new wizard-themed video game may yet offer help for children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by having them control their game characters with their brain waves. The game, dubbed "Focus Pocus," incorporates a real-time electroencephalography to improve impulse control, memory, attention and relaxation in children. "Created and developed by NeuroCog Solutions, and based on 15 years of research on ADHD, the wizard-themed game uses NeuroSky's brainwave-reading headset to assist children who have difficulty controlling memory and impulses. It assists children aged 7 to 13 years by targeting learning fundamentals (i.e. memory, impulse control, and the ability to concentrate), rather than specific learning of content (e.g. math, spelling)," it said in a news release on its website. It said the project is a joint effort of Silicon Valley-based brain-computer interface company NeuroSky, NeuroCog Solutions (Australia), and developer roll7 (United Kingdom). Players in the game take on the role of apprentice wizards, working their way through 12 mini-games using the brain-computer interface (BCI) headset, dubbed the NeuroSky Mindwave, which exercise behavioral traits such as:

• Impulse control, whereby certain goblins in a forest are zapped.
• Working memory, requiring the player to remember where a spell book was left in a library and to cast hexes on ghouls and goblins
• 'State control' games, where players must relax to turn a pig into a trumpet, concentrate to hurtle along on a broomstick, or a host of other wizardy tasks

"The game-play of this magical world is devised to be fun for the child, but Focus Pocus also incorporates a 'training' mode designed to track and train the player's mental states, with an online parent reporting and feedback system called FocusIn highlighting areas where they need improvement," it said. FocusIn allows parents to log in daily and see how their child is doing with their exercises, and also reward them for good behavior by unlocking features within Focus Pocus. It also provides a report after 25 sessions, focusing on performance and behavior change. 'Safe' headset The headset reads and translates the brainwave data in safe and simple way and incorporates it into the game-play, the game makers said. "It not only measures levels of attention and relaxation during different tasks, but also incentivizes them with playable rewards," they said. Impulse control, memory training Dr. Stuart Johnstone of the University of Wollongong (Australia) found that training in impulse control and memory minimized the effects of distraction, improving overall concentration and behavior. "I developed an interest in alternative treatments for children with ADHD after listening to their parents’ concerns about over-medication," said Johnstone. Dr. Joseph Graffi, CEO of NeuroCog Solutions, said "Focus Pocus" is the first in a line of products that NeuroCog is creating based on research. A separate article on PC World said "Focus Pocus" and the MindWave headset cost $249, and is available for Windows PCs but not for Macs, at least for now. — TJD, GMA News