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Playing as a team: A new study on brain and cooperation
04.12.2023 05:20
Updated: 06.11.2024 11:13
Cooperation needs concentration, and gamers know it a lot, because that's how most modern cooperative games work.
A team of scientists have discovered new information on how our brain works when we play with other people.
Let's see what they've discovered.
How it was detected
Researchers at the University of Konstanz are studying cooperative behavior using the computer game Pacman in their EEG laboratory.
The goal is to see if strangers can synchronize their efforts to succeed in the game without direct communication.
The team, led by Professor Harald Schupp, wanted to create a natural and engaging environment for studying cooperative behavior.
They adapted Pacman for their study, where two players work together to guide Pacman towards the goal.
However, there's a twist - only one player can see Pacman's next move, and they must communicate indirectly through symbols on the screen.
The researchers measured the players' brain activity using EEG and focused on the P3 component, which indicates significant and task-relevant stimuli.
Why it's useful to know
The results showed that the brain reactions were influenced by the players' roles and the symbols used for communication.
The study highlights the importance of cooperative behavior in society and how our brains are naturally wired for it.
