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1st May '08 Thu, 10:21
GREENVILLE, N.C., April 28 (UPI) -- "Casual" video games such as Bookworm, Bejeweled 2 and Peggle provide stress-relieving and other mood-lifting effects, a U.S. study found.
East Carolina University's Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies said that in all cases, the changes in stress levels and mood were measured in comparison to a control group that experienced a Web-based activity similar in physical and mental nature to the game-playing groups.
The researchers measured heart-rate variability, electroencephalography and subjects' mood states pre- and post-activity.
"The results of this study are impressive and intriguing, given the extent of the effects of the games on subjects' stress levels and overall mood," study director Dr. Carmen Russoniello said in a statement. "I believe there is a wide range of therapeutic applications of casual games in mood-related disorders such as depression and in stress-related disorders including diabetes and cardiovascular disease."
East Carolina University's Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies said that in all cases, the changes in stress levels and mood were measured in comparison to a control group that experienced a Web-based activity similar in physical and mental nature to the game-playing groups.
The researchers measured heart-rate variability, electroencephalography and subjects' mood states pre- and post-activity.
"The results of this study are impressive and intriguing, given the extent of the effects of the games on subjects' stress levels and overall mood," study director Dr. Carmen Russoniello said in a statement. "I believe there is a wide range of therapeutic applications of casual games in mood-related disorders such as depression and in stress-related disorders including diabetes and cardiovascular disease."