The science behind the game
Numerous studies have investigated the possibility of improving cognitive abilities using behavioral interventions, such as playing video games. This literature suggests that specific kinds of complex video games, in particular action video games, are far more effective than the popular “brain training” mini-games (e.g., Bediou et al. 2018), with some researchers even creating and testing video games specifically designed for cognitive training (Anguerra et al. 2013).
While the empirical data collected so far seems solid, our understanding of the mechanisms involved in cognitive training remains rather limited. The Behaverse Training Games aim to advance our understanding of those mechanisms by translating scientific hypotheses into concrete game implementations that can be tested experimentally. Our games can be declined into multiple alternative versions, each tailored to test a specific hypothesis. All versions maintain the same core gameplay and visuals, ensuring they remain as comparable as possible, only differing by key experimental features.
Intervention studies are challenging to conduct and there is a need for additional, well-powered experimental studies of this sort. By offering people a compelling gaming experience and allowing them to participate from the comfort of their homes, we aim to collect extensive and rich behavioral datasets that will allow us to better understand how cognitive enhancement works.