East Carolina University has published the results of a clinical study that attempted to measure the impact of playing so-called casual video games on players’ moods and stress levels by measuring changes in heart rate, brain activity via electroencephalography, and pre/post-gaming mood state profiles). The results? Casual video games can have a significant positive impact on subjects’ moods and stress levels—so much so, that the East Carolina University is planning to start clinical trials to determine the therapeutic value of the games.
The study was funded by casual game developer PopCap, which has been getting into trying to quantify the audience and benefits of casual gaming.
