The use of a videogame for assessing sensory-motor and cognitive interference effects in humans

Light is a reliable visual distracter. Our research program is geared toward documenting the parameters by which different forms of light cause distraction in basic sensory-perception processes, motor abilities, and mental capabilities (sample classification, sample identification, trail markings short-term memory, etc.) Unlike the standardized assessment tests commonly used, we theorized that a videogame-type task would allow for multiple-trial measurements in tasks similar to what is assessed in the Wechsler Abbreviated Intelligence Scale. To determine if the commercial video game Police Trainer could be used as the videogame research tool we correlated measures of short-term memory (Wechsler Abbreviated Intelligence Scale) and sensory-motor processing (Grooved Pegboard) with tasks played In the game. We found that scores on specific tasks increased at different rates depending on the task complexity (simple visual-motor versus class identification or short-term memory). We concluded that the use of this videogame has utility as an active-assessment tool especially in studies where additional attention or cognitive load manipulations (such as visual or auditory distracters) are of primary interest We have now proceeded in implementing the video game into a light-distracting experiment. White light is presented. as the visual distracter from several angles, in reference to the game´s screen. As participants play the assigned tasks, an occasional 1 s flash of light is presented. Accuracy and latency to respond to the game-task is measured on the light-exposure trials versus the no-exposure trials. Behavioral reactions to the light stimuli were recorded using mini cameras in the room and on the game. Pilot data from the light exposure trials are presented.