Articles tagged with Games
Playing numerical board games boosts preschoolers' counting, numeral recognition, and estimation skills, with benefits lasting nine weeks. The study found that such activities can bridge the gap in math knowledge between low-income and middle-income children.
A study by Case Western Reserve University psychologist found that skills play a significant role in winning at poker, rather than luck. The research involved college students playing multiple rounds of Turbo Texas Hold'em, with those given strategies performing better and improving their games.
Researchers have discovered characteristic patterns of brain activity in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that reflect an inability to perceive themselves as social creatures. The study found that individuals with ASD exhibit diminished perception of self in social interactions, similar to those playing against a computer.
A study found that high-functioning individuals with autism have impaired 'self' responses in the brain, affecting their ability to understand themselves and others. This discovery could lead to new diagnostic tools and a better understanding of social cognition in autism.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill used high-tech helmets to measure g-force and find that hits above 80g do not always result in concussions, challenging conventional theories about mild traumatic brain injuries. The study advises against a one-size-fits-all rule for evaluating concussions.
Research from the University of Texas at Austin found college students drink larger amounts of alcohol on football game days. Women, particularly lighter drinkers, were more likely to engage in risky behaviors after consuming alcohol. The study suggests that social context plays a significant role in increased drinking rates.
Researcher Heidi Kloos investigates why young children are stumped by science, particularly the concept of density. Her findings suggest that alternative teaching approaches can help children navigate these waters more smoothly.
In a study, chimpanzees were confronted with a simplified version of the ultimatum game. Unlike humans, they accepted any nonzero offer, whether it was unfair or not. The researchers conclude that chimpanzees do not show a willingness to make fair offers and reject unfair ones.
Researchers discovered that genes significantly impact people's perception of fairness in economic games, with identical twins showing greater similarity in gameplay than fraternal twins. Genetic influences account for up to 40% of the variation in response to unfair offers.
A three-way mating struggle observed in North American lizards has been discovered in a distant European relative, the European common lizard. The species share behavioral and reproductive details, including gaudy colors of males, indicating a potential universal evolutionary pattern among social animals.
The UC San Diego researchers have created an online game called Listen Game that allows players to label songs with words, generating crucial data for building a music search engine. The system uses machine learning to train computers to annotate songs accurately.
A new online game, Anti-Phishing Phil, has been developed by Carnegie Mellon University to educate people on how to identify fraudulent websites. The game improved players' accuracy from 69% to 87% in identifying legitimate and illegitimate web sites.
Researchers used World of Warcraft to simulate a virtual epidemic, revealing the importance of individual behavior in spreading diseases. The outbreak, caused by a programming error, highlighted the limitations of computer models in predicting human behavior.
Captive orangutans intentionally modify or repeat hand signals based on success or failure, signaling their comprehension level. They adjust their strategy depending on whether they are partially or completely understood, aiming to achieve a shared understanding.
A study at the University of Chicago found that Americans struggle to consider another person's point of view, whereas Chinese people are more adept at it. The researchers devised a game to test this ability and found that Chinese subjects quickly focused on the objects the director could see, while Americans took longer to figure it out.
A study by Cheri Mah of Stanford University found that athletes who got extra sleep showed significant improvements in sprint time and shooting percentages. They also reported increased energy, improved mood, and reduced fatigue during practices and games.
Luis von Ahn, a Carnegie Mellon computer science assistant professor, has been awarded the $200,000 Microsoft New Faculty Fellowship. He will use the resources to develop new software and engage with Microsoft Research employees to further his research in human computation.
A new study published in Nature found that participants in a game were willing to reduce their own earnings to increase another player's income, demonstrating a preference for economic equality. The results suggest that egalitarian motives underlie human cooperation and reciprocity.
A study of over 5,000 soccer matches found that referees show partiality towards the home team, scoring 1.5 goals at home and 1.1 away, with crowd size increasing advantage by 0.1 goals for every additional 10,000 people.
Researchers found that fans without ear protection in Edmonton Oilers games received a daily allowable noise dose of over 8,100%, posing a significant risk to their hearing. The study highlights the importance of wearing protective gear during loud events like hockey playoffs.
Research reveals that even short exposure to loud noise during Stanley Cup games can be harmful, with fans receiving up to 81% of their daily noise dose without ear protection. Earplugs can mitigate this risk and help prevent hearing loss and tinnitus.
New York Yankees have a better than 3 in 4 chance of advancing to the league championship according to NJIT math professor Bruce Bukiet's model. The Minnesota Twins also show a strong probability of defeating the Oakland A's with a 71% chance.
Research at the University of Alberta finds that perfectionist tendencies in young hockey players lead to increased anger and frustration. Players are more likely to experience emotional turmoil when faced with high-pressure games, with many struggling to control their emotions on the ice.
A new method of user-testing in interactive games is being developed using 'immersidata,' which captures machine-readable records of commands sent by players. The tool, ISIS, analyzes these records to identify problems in game design and development, including navigation errors and emotional responses.
A team of scientists found that individual neurons in the auditory cortex respond more strongly to stimuli conforming to the 1/f rule than to others. This selective sensitivity leads to a more accurate representation of natural sounds within the brain.
A study of 6,500 participants found that psychologists made bigger profits by bucking the trend and not following other investors. They attributed share prices to psychological effects rather than herd behavior.
Researchers used brain scans to predict volunteer performance in a motion discrimination task. They found that brain signals related to spatial attention predicted performance, suggesting the brain uses internal signals to influence perception.
Body checking in youth hockey was found to cause relatively few injuries compared to unintentional collisions with boards or players. Despite this, researchers recommend delaying body checking until players are at least 16 years old due to increased injury rates among 13-year-olds.
The University of Central Florida's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy is now using the Xbox Development Kits as part of its training programs. This agreement provides students with valuable experience in gaming console development and gives them a competitive edge in the industry. With access to contemporary console platforms, ...
A study published in Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers tend to buy past winners and sell past losers in the stock market, violating the normative rule of buying low and selling high. This bias may make it easier for advertisers to negatively influence consumer decisions.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that speakers use disambiguating words to avoid confusion for listeners. Acting as a listener with ambiguous instructions makes participants more aware of speaking ambiguously, prompting them to adjust their language.
The International Campaign to Revitalise Academic Medicine proposes three possible futures for academic medicine: one driven by the private sector, another by public engagement, and a third by global networks. The scenarios offer insights into how academic medicine should evolve, with potential benefits including improved efficiency, i...
Researchers found that the Good Behavior Game reduced aggressive behavior and improved academic achievement, particularly among high-risk boys, with lower rates of criminal activity and delinquency.
A study by Joslin Diabetes Center found that youth ages 8-18 with type 1 diabetes were more likely to monitor their blood glucose levels when playing a guessing game on a wireless-equipped personal digital assistant. The study showed an increase in diabetes knowledge and fewer episodes of hyperglycemia among participants.
Researchers discovered a brain region, lateral intraparietal (LIP) area, plays a key role in subjective decisions about actions. Monkeys trained to play a game against computer opponent adopted the same strategy as humans, suggesting similar neural processes are at play.
The Expressive Lighting Engine (ELE) is an intelligent system that allows game developers to use lighting to direct attention, create mood, and provide visual depth. ELE can guide players to important elements in 3D scenes by tracking eye movements, improving player success rates in identifying enemies.
A new study by Michigan Medicine suggests that insured individuals are willing to make sacrifices to help cover the costs of the uninsured. When given the opportunity to discuss their concerns and priorities in a group setting, many participants chose to cover both adults and children, with 76% opting for some form of coverage. The res...
The team aims to maximize biodiversity on the site, addressing issues of re-introduction of native plants and animals, habitat fragmentation, and invasive species control. The park will be built by August 2008 for the Games' enjoyment and education, complementing Beijing's cultural sites.
A recent study by mathematicians and economists found that National League pitchers are more likely to throw inside pitches, increasing the risk of hitting batters. This 'moral hazard' theory suggests that the rule's impact is not due to lower costs for NL pitchers, but rather their fear of retaliation when stepping up to bat.
The AAAS symposium features educators and authors using popular culture to make physics accessible. Chemical physicist Catherine Asaro uses romance novels infused with quantum physics, while Professor James Kakalios illustrates physics principles through superhero comics.
A brain imaging study found that negative emotional states can override logical thinking in economic decisions, such as the ultimatum game, where people are offered a portion of $10. The study reveals a complex interplay between emotion and deliberative thought, suggesting that emotions play a primary role in decision-making.
Agent-based models reveal how simple interactions among individuals can generate complex social patterns, such as residential segregation and fads. Researchers use these models to study human behavior, including peer enforcement of norms and self-destructive behaviors.
The Office of Naval Research conducted a technology transition 'wargame' to explore approaches for rapid spin-out of emerging technologies into the commercial sector. The exercise examined three different models, including traditional government office, not-for-profit corporation, and for-profit company models.
A recent UGA study found that individuals with narcissistic tendencies often prioritize dominance over intimacy and may engage in 'game-playing love', leading to serious relationship problems. Despite initial charm, these partners frequently betray trust and exhibit manipulative behavior.
The study found that all participants exceeded their maximum heart rate target, with slow heart-rate recovery common among them. Dr. Murray Mittleman cautions against warning off players, instead suggesting regular exercise throughout the year to mitigate cardiac risks.
Researchers found that players should bank money after each correct answer to maximize their winnings. However, the game's psychological dynamics can lead players to abandon this optimal strategy due to the host's aggressive tactics.
A study by University of Warwick researchers found that English football games are characterized by fewer high-scoring matches compared to the rest of the world. In contrast, top division matches globally exhibit a much higher frequency of high scores, suggesting a significant difference in the level of excitement between the two.
Research by Professor Anurag Agrawal reveals that plants can detect the difference between various insect species and respond accordingly, adjusting their growth, behavior, and chemical defenses. In turn, insects adapt their phenotype and physiology to better digest the plant, highlighting a flexible co-evolutionary strategy.
A study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that Duke University football players transmitted a Norwalk-like virus to their Florida State University opponents after eating contaminated food. The transmission was attributed to people touching each other's hands, uniforms, and possibly the football itself.
A Yale study reveals that training low-income parents and inner city daycare teachers to engage three-to five-year-olds in make believe play can significantly strengthen children's skills for succeeding in school. This play-based approach enhances vocabulary, language usage, counting, fine motor control, and social/emotional growth.
Research suggests that some older adults have impaired decision-making skills, making them more vulnerable to fraudulent activities. A study found that a third of healthy individuals in their 60s performed poorly on a gambling task, similar to those with known brain damage.
A new multiplayer online game called The Turing Game is designed to differentiate imposters from truth-tellers by analyzing written communication. Players are asked questions about their personal characteristics, revealing how cultural markers affect a person's virtual identity.
Researchers developed a game to help close the gap between clinician and patient values in rehabilitation, finding that patients prioritize cognitive skills over physical skills early on but clinicians prefer full independence. The game identifies disparities in preferences across different stages of recovery.
A numerical analyst developed a math model with algorithms to distribute Seattle Mariners' season tickets fairly among a group of friends. The technique uses mixed-integer programming to satisfy diverse requests and preferences, achieving 46.7% success rate in assigning top-ranked games.
Statisticians Jan Magnus and Franc Klaassen analyzed nearly 90,000 points from Wimbledon matches between 1992 and 1995, finding players are not more likely to fluff a point after breaking or serve a double fault. The study challenges common clichés about tennis scoring patterns.
A new scheduling system for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) uses algorithms to generate over 300 million possible schedules before arriving at a single optimal solution. The system provides numerous benefits, including ensuring fair matchups, convenient fan attendance, and rest time for athletes.
Game shows on TV can reinforce information and change attitudes in kids, according to a study by Ohio University researcher Anne Cooper-Chen. The format is easily replicable in classroom settings, making it a valuable educational tool.
A group of Duke University engineering students designed and built a custom-made goalie slider for Daniel Delimata, a cerebral palsy patient who was unable to participate in street hockey games. The slider allows him to move more efficiently and effectively, improving his coordination, balance, and overall playing experience.
Despite its popularity in classrooms, board game therapy remains untested and potentially ineffective due to a lack of scientific studies. Therapists are advised to scrutinize games before using them in therapeutic settings to avoid making uncritical claims about their benefits.
A University of Massachusetts study warns that Olympians may experience performance issues due to extreme heat and humidity. The study suggests that some remedies, such as blowing air over water with fans, may not be effective in cooling athletes down.