How does the Attention Arcade train cognitive skills?

The Attention Arcade is gaze-driven. The games use an eye-tracking device to register your child’s eye movements in the game. Their eye movements are used to control the games (no mouse or keyboard needed). Using eye movements, we can train something that is difficult to observe directly: Attention.

Decades of research have shown that attention and gaze (where we are looking) generally work together and share much of the same brain circuitry. Animal research has found that shifts of attention precede gaze shifts and mark the location for an eye movement. Understanding these findings helped us design games that gradually shape behavior around attention skills using visual and auditory feedback provided in real-time. 

The training improves the speed, accuracy, and control of eye movement while improving foundational attention skills in children with attention challenges. These cognitive skills are critical to working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. 

Essential to your child’s progress and development of attention skills is the time and frequency of practice. So, yes, tell your child to sit at the computer and play video games every day for as long as they can. (Trust us, after 30 mins they’ll be ready to move on… it’s a workout for your brain and eye movement system!)

How are these video games good for my child, while others are not?

Video games are not inherently bad! It’s how they are used that presents that problem. When video games are used as a distraction and created to be addicting, children can play so much that they miss out on important development that comes from engaging in the real world. But if you use video games to train skills and gain knowledge, they can be life-changing. (That is why we are fans of the non-profit Games for Change.)

Our brain training games don’t require your child to sit at the computer all day. A child needs to play about 20-30 minutes a day 3-5 times a week to see results. And there you have it: video games for good! 

Why will my child get tired of sitting at their computer?

Every second, we can move our eyes 3-4 times. While this is typically done unconsciously, the Attention Arcade requires a conscious effort. The player is trained to be conscious of their eye movements and to better control them, which takes quite a bit of focus and effort. It typically takes a child time to build up to play 30 minutes per session. 

Kids love playing the Attention Arcade.  One of our participants, Ella says, “If I didn’t know they were teaching me something, I’d just think the games were fun!” Despite practice being tiring, like a workout for your brain, we find that participants keep coming back for more! While it might not replace Call of Duty or Clash of Clans in their mind, once they get started, they find it fun and you’ll see the results in as little as 4 to 8 weeks of gameplay!