Ticket to the mind: a mobile eye-tracking investigation of executive functions while playing physical and digital games.

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20335165

Physical and digital games are increasingly used beyond entertainment in schools and hospitals for their cognitive health benefits, but there is a lack of understanding of how game medium impacts executive functions. The present study presents a novel method using mobile eye-tracking, combined with a post-experiment survey, to compare working memory and inhibition between physical and digital versions of the popular board game Ticket to Ride. Results indicate that both fixation duration and mean pupil diameter change are statistically significantly greater while playing digital games versus physical games, indicating increased load on working memory. No statistically significant difference between the versions appear regarding the amount of time players spent looking at the game versus outside of it, suggesting level of inhibition does not differ. The findings can influence how games are used and designed for medical and educational purposes to maximize specific player experiences down to brain function during play--Author's abstract