TITLE

Can a Video Game Treat ADHD?

DESCRIPTION

Are there alternative to medication treatments for ADHD?  Research has examined the use of biofeedback, behavior modification, parent training and so on.   Can a video game played by children diagnosed with ADHD serve as a digital solution?  The researchers at a company, Akili, have studied the effects of a particular game they have designed, and their preliminary research has been positive on the subject.  “It’s not just any game, of course, but one that’s been designed specifically to stimulate neural pathways in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain tied to a person’s ability to sustain attention and control impulsivity.”  The article provides a link to the research paper which would be useful in studying experimental design and behavioral analysis.  The company hopes that after further and submission to peer reviewed journals that the game would receive FDA approval.

SOURCE

smithsonian.com, December 18, 2017, by Randy Rieland

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/can-video-game-treat-adhd-180967571/

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/ybm5d35c

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•What is ADHD?  ADD?

•What are the traditional therapies for ADHD?

•What is the claim that the company, Aliki, makes about using video games for treatment?

•The research is discussed that lead the researchers to believe that their proprietary video game is an effective treatment.  Review this article and click on the link to the research (in the article itself).  Have students discuss the research methodology in terms of Psychology as a Science.  What are the particular problems with the reseach?