Videogames have the potential to become of significant value for education and training. For instance, they provide an immersive, attractive medium with constant real-time feedback, an ideal combination to promote time on task and intrinsic motivation, two essential features for efficient learning. A great number of studies have shown that playing video games has positive effects on various perceptual and cognitive abilities. However, these effects seem to be specific to action video games and are not found with other genres (e.g. strategy, role playing, brain games, etc.).

The present project aims at further investigating the neural underpinnings of these effects, with the use of neuroimaging techniques (EEG and MRI). In particular, we are interested in exploring two specific aspects of cognition:

1. How learning processes are affected – are video gamers better learners in various domains and why?
2. Does the emotional content of video games have an impact on social behavior and certain affective skills such as the processing of emotional stimuli?

• Number of places available: 1 per semester.

Prerequisites

• The project will include the analysis of both behavioral and neuroimaging data. Therefore, the successful applicant should have good knowledge of statistics and show a strong motivation for learning to analyze EEG and/or MRI data.
• Programming skills or prior experience with neuroimaging will be considered a plus.

Faculty Department

Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Section of psychology

The department of psychology of the University of Geneva is situated close to downtown Geneva. It is located in a splendid building that hosts lecture halls, library, offices, labs, and a cafeteria. The department accepts about 200 students per year and has Masters Programs in clinical, developmental, affective, social, and cognitive psychology. All classes are taught in French, but the lab language is English.