The Brain on Game - Biological Responses, Personality, Motivation and Emotion in Gaming and Conventional Games.

Play is considered a basic human phenomenon. Almost all people play as children. There is no need for external motivation to play, but there is an internal drive to play (e.g. Piaget, 1945). Currently, games, which are played online or offline on electronic devices, are experiencing a great boom. The Covid-19 pandemic has given this boom a further boost (Statista, 2021). However, games played without electronic devices (e.g., board or card games) also remain popular.

More recently, however, gaming has come under some criticism as the phenomenon of gaming disorder has emerged with the increasing popularity of electronic games. Since 2022, gaming disorder has been classified as an official disease by the World Health Organization. However, we believe that fundamental alarmism about digital games is misplaced. For example, current studies show that most gamers are responsible in their gaming behavior (Montag et al., 2021). The Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport also sees digital games as a cultural asset worthy of support and is currently making efforts to strengthen Germany as a location for games. However, it cannot be denied that there is an increasing incidence of gaming disorder (Stevens et al., 2021). With the help of the findings of the current study, we want to achieve that games and gaming can be used even more as positive resources and that the risk of negative consequences can be kept low. In this way, we want to help ensure that gaming continues to be associated with a passion for life and not with possible
with possible dangers. The more one knows about the psychological and biological mechanisms of playing and gaming, the better this can be achieved.

The current project will investigate to what extent playing a digital-virtual game differs from playing a conventional game. By measuring biopsychological and psychological parameters, the following research questions will be addressed:

1. Are the biopsychological reactions when playing a digital game different from reactions in a conventional game?
2. Can differences be found in the degree of immersion in digital games and conventional games?
3. To what extent does the experienced feeling of reward as an indicator of fun and enjoyment differ in digital games from conventional games?
4. can biological reactions be detected in connection with individual game elements?
5. What personality traits, motivations, and emotions are associated with game behavior and game decisions?

Specifically, subjects will be examined in a laboratory study during gaming and conventional games. Heart rate activity and electrodermal activity will be recorded as signs of biopsychological arousal. In addition, personality traits, gaming motivations, and emotions will be recorded. This procedure allows a concrete comparison between biological and psychological reactions in gaming and conventional games.