HRV Parameters Sensitively Detecting the Response of Game Addicted Players

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to extract quantitative parameters that indicate significant differences in ECG(electrocardiogram) between game-addicted group and non-addicted group. Currently, there is no objective means to define game addiction among health authorities and academic societies. Therefore, authors attempted to classify subjects into game-addicted groups and non-addicted group. The existing diagnostic questionnaire was used to divide subjects into two groups, and used heart rate variability to detect the any particular sign of psychophysiological response of game addicted subjects different from the non-addicted subject. ‘League of Legends’ by Riot Games company was used for the test. The parameters were analyzed by applying various data collecting time windows. Multiple t-tests were used to compare the two groups. In results, no significant difference was found in the data collected from time window 1) full game period and 2) first and last 10 min, and 3) first and last 5 min. However, when the player’s character was killed, there were significant differences in parameters between two groups when 30 s, 60 s, and 90 s after ‘being killed event’. The outcome of this study showed that particular parameters at given data collecting window could generate more sensitive outcomes than the others. Further experiment would confirm the results to be used for developing an algorithm to quantitatively diagnose the addicted individuals.