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New Books On Serious Games and Cognition


Via: IGI GlobalFast Reaction Time in Gaming Leads to Faster Reaction Time in Life

Hershey, PA – April 14, 2010 – Could a person’s reaction speed in a game scenario lead to a faster reaction in all aspects of life? The idea that games can have positive impact upon critical thinking and problem solving is widely accepted in today’s digital society, yet the effect of video games on human cognition is still largely unexplored.

Recently, scientists from the University of Rochester, Matthew Dye, Shawn Green and Daphne Bavelier conducted reviews of a variety of research and found some interesting insights.

They found that the reaction times of avid players became faster not only on their game of choice, but on a variety of unrelated laboratory tests of reaction time as well.

Dye and his colleagues found that gamers don’t lose accuracy (in the game or in lab tests) as they get faster. They believe that this is a result of the gamers’ improved visual cognition.

Playing video games enhances performance in areas such as mental rotation skills, visual and spatial memory, and tasks requiring divide attention. They also concluded that training with video games may reduce gender differences in visual and spatial processing, and impede some of the cognitive declines of aging.

The New Books

In order to fulfill the need for literature on gaming and cognitive processes, IGI Global, publisher of information science and technology, releases Gaming and Cognition: Theories and Practice from the Learning Sciences (edited by Dr. Richard Van Eck, University of North Dakota, USA).

The book applies the principles of research in the study of human cognition to video games, providing a critical examination of the rigor and design of the experiments in the study of cognition and gaming. It combines many aspects of the learning sciences such as psychology, instructional design, and education and also historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives.

The editor, Dr. Richard Van Eck, describes the relationship between cognitive and learning sciences, “cognition is studied across many different disciplines, including psychology, education, instructional design, and communication. While each of these fields brings critical theoretical and practical perspectives to bear on the study of cognition, perhaps none sufficiently captures the full range of theory as it relates to human cognition in the digital age.

The need for cross-disciplinary approaches to the study of cognition, coupled with the increasing role of technology in human culture has led to a new field of studies referred to as the learning sciences. The learning sciences, which also include computer science and anthropology, emphasize a rigorous, empirical approach to theory and practice in the study of cognition in general and more specifically in learning and technology. As such, they may represent the best lens for studying the cognitive effects of digital games.” For further information regarding this book, please visit: https://new.igi-global.com/Bookstore/TitleDetails.aspx?TitleId=37302

As a complement to this book, Dr. Richard Van Eck has a second newly released book through IGI Global, Interdisciplinary Models and Tools for Serious Games: Emerging Concepts and Future Directions. The book brings cross-disciplinary awareness into the study of games and learning by integrating theoretic models and myriad concepts from distinct fields of study, applying them to digital game-based learning. For more information on this book, please visit: https://new.igi-global.com/Bookstore/TitleDetails.aspx?TitleId=37303

Among Other Related Titles Released by IGI Global Are:

Educational Gameplay and Simulation Environments: Case Studies and Lessons Learned
https://new.igi-global.com/Bookstore/TitleDetails.aspx?TitleId=37262

Serious Game Design and Development: Technologies for Training and Learning
https://new.igi-global.com/Bookstore/TitleDetails.aspx?TitleId=37283

Ethics and Game Design: Teaching Values through Play
https://www.igi-global.com/book/ethics-game-design/37269

About IGI Global:

Since 1988 IGI Global has provided comprehensive research not just on computer science and information technology management, but also on how information technology affects human activities and interactions. IGI Global is a leading multimedia publisher of books, reference works, journals, encyclopedias, teaching cases, proceedings, and databases covering the areas of education, social science, library science, healthcare, business management, public administration, and computer science.

Information on all of IGI Global’s authoritative resources can be found at https://www.igi-global.com/ IGI Global’s office is located in Hershey, PA, USA.

Order inquiries may be directed to: 717-533-8845 x110 or to book wholesalers or journal subscription agents.