GREENVILLE, N.C., Apr 28, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- "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."
Russoniello is scheduled to present the findings May 8 at the Games for Health
Conference in Baltimore.
PopCap Games, which created the three puzzle and word games used in the study,
underwrote the study and provided copies of the games for research purposes.
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International