A Visuo-Haptic Attention Training Game With Dynamic Adjustment of Difficulty

While action video games have been shown effective for training attention, little research has explored how to effectively utilize haptic interaction in these games for attention modulation and training. In this paper, we introduce a visuo-haptic game combining fingertip force control with an immersive visual display. In the proposed stimulus-reaction game, users are required to press a force sensor using either the index or middle finger from both hands. In order to be successful in a trial, users must respond swiftly to the visual cues by producing an accurate fingertip force within an allowable duration of time. The difficulty levels of the task are adjusted dynamically by an adaptive model to achieve a constant success rate. Validation tests on 12 participants confirmed that the proposed model is actually able to maintain an expected success rate of 75% within ±5% fluctuation. With the proposed game, 12 trainees were subsequently administered pre- and post-tests in the first and last day of a longitudinal experiment to examine efficacy of training on the sustained-attention-to-response task (SART) and the Stroop task. The results from these two typical batteries of attention test show that significant improvements were found after five days of attention training. Overall, these data illustrate the potential of the proposed visuo-haptic game for attention training.