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Playing With Neuroscience: Past, Present and Future of Neuroimaging and Games

Paolo Burelli, Laurits Dixen

TL;DR

This paper surveys the convergence of neuroscience and gaming across three axes: using neuroimaging to study games, leveraging games as platforms for neuroscience experiments, and applying brain–computer interfaces to gameplay. It highlights current methods (EEG, fMRI, BCI paradigms) and the potential of deep learning to model complex brain–game interactions, while noting data-standardization and privacy challenges. The authors argue that games can enhance ecological validity in neuroscience and that neuroimaging can enrich player-experience research, with ML enabling scalable analysis and real-time adaptation. They caution about privacy risks and advocate for shared, well-documented datasets and privacy-preserving approaches.

Abstract

Videogames have been a catalyst for advances in many research fields, such as artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction or virtual reality. Over the years, research in fields such as artificial intelligence has enabled the design of new types of games, while games have often served as a powerful tool for testing and simulation. Can this also happen with neuroscience? What is the current relationship between neuroscience and games research? what can we expect from the future? In this article, we'll try to answer these questions, analysing the current state-of-the-art at the crossroads between neuroscience and games and envisioning future directions.

Playing With Neuroscience: Past, Present and Future of Neuroimaging and Games

TL;DR

This paper surveys the convergence of neuroscience and gaming across three axes: using neuroimaging to study games, leveraging games as platforms for neuroscience experiments, and applying brain–computer interfaces to gameplay. It highlights current methods (EEG, fMRI, BCI paradigms) and the potential of deep learning to model complex brain–game interactions, while noting data-standardization and privacy challenges. The authors argue that games can enhance ecological validity in neuroscience and that neuroimaging can enrich player-experience research, with ML enabling scalable analysis and real-time adaptation. They caution about privacy risks and advocate for shared, well-documented datasets and privacy-preserving approaches.

Abstract

Videogames have been a catalyst for advances in many research fields, such as artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction or virtual reality. Over the years, research in fields such as artificial intelligence has enabled the design of new types of games, while games have often served as a powerful tool for testing and simulation. Can this also happen with neuroscience? What is the current relationship between neuroscience and games research? what can we expect from the future? In this article, we'll try to answer these questions, analysing the current state-of-the-art at the crossroads between neuroscience and games and envisioning future directions.
Paper Structure (13 sections, 2 figures)

This paper contains 13 sections, 2 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. A Primer on Functional Neuroimaging
  3. Games as a Research Platform
  4. Brain-Computer Interfaces
  5. BCI for games
  6. Player Experience Research
  7. Challenges, Opportunities and Future Directions
  8. Technology and Applicability
  9. Standard Datasets
  10. Ecological Validity
  11. Deep Learning, Neuroscience and Games
  12. Personal data and privacy concerns
  13. Conclusion

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: Count of papers published every year between 1990 and 2023 appearing on the Scopus database. The papers have been gathered using the query "(neuro OR EEG OR fMRI OR MEG OR fNIRS OR BCI) AND (videogame OR "video game" OR "computer game" OR "e-sport" OR "serious game")". A total of 1245 papers have been found and used in this visualisation.
  • Figure 2: A graphic of how EEG and fMRI is recorded and an example of a standard visualisation. Image is adapted from: g.tec (EEG cap), Hvidovre Hospital Radiologisk Sektion (MR scanner), The Harvard Gazette (fMRI visulisation)