We’re really lucky that the brain is subject to research and it means that there are great scientists designing experiments and writing about how the brain can develop. We work with academic institutions on some games and we learn from ongoing research to understand how best to develop our games.
Prof. Barbara Sahakian / Cambridge University – We have developed two games with Professor Sahakian and her team. The first is a memory game called Wizard and her research shows that playing the game improves memory. You can read more about the study here1.
The second is Decoder, a game designed to improve attention. In a study published in Frontiers of Behavioural Neuroscience, she shows that users who play Decoder significantly improve their attention in standardised tests when compared to control groups2.
Prof. Wei Ji Ma and Sebastiaan van Opheusden / New York University – We have developed a decision making game with Professor Wei Ji Ma, based on his previous research3. Connect ‘Em Up challenges problem solving skills and helps the researchers understand how decisions are made.
Dr. Oliver Robinson / University College London – We have developed a game called Handling Emotion that aims to help people to focus on positive stimuli. It is based on a concept called attentional bias modification4 and the effectiveness of this game is being studied right now.
Bruno Bonnechere / Université libre de Bruxelles – Bonnechere’s research looked at whether Peak games can be used to assess clinical symptoms such as memory deficits. In a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2018, he found a correlation between seven Peak games and two clinical cognitive assessments5.
Dr.Joel R. Sneed / City University of New York – Dr Sneed is working with us to see if our games can impact the cognitive functioning and mood of young adults with depressive symptoms. In a study published in February 2019 in the Journal of Affective Disorders, Dr Sneed reported that playing some Peak games yielded significant improvements6 in self and clinician-rated depressive severity, every day functioning and cognition.
Dr. Bettina Studer / Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Dusseldorf & Department of Neurology, Mauritius Hospital Meerbusch - Effects of Peak games on cognitive abilities of patients with brain injury.
Madalina Hanc (PhD candidate) / - University College London - The Bartlett - How workspace quality supports cognitive learning as assessed by Peak games.