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Advanced Neurology Transforming ADHD through interactive gaming

mechanism to help the user interact with the objects in the evaluated. Here, the user is asked specific questions about
gaming environment. the game and the gaming environment. The answers are
then analyzed to determine the presence of ADHD. As
2.5.2. Testing mentioned earlier, the task is to pop the blue balloons in the
The techniques employed to monitor the user’s scene and keep a count of them. However, the color blue can
2
performance in the Mind Marvel platform are detailed in trigger ADHD symptoms in the user, including difficulty
Figure 9, which shows the process of gathering data on distinguishing the balloons when there are many blue-
the number of balloons popped by the user. The platform colored ones. Additionally, the environment is designed to
is coded so that blue balloons are randomly generated in distract the user from completing the task, with the animals
the beginning of the game. In this case, each balloon is randomly appearing and disappearing in the scene.
assigned a unique identifier comprising a numerical value, The following questions (Figures 10 and 11) focus on
followed by the term “balloon-.” By utilizing a property the relevance and function of the Questionnaire:
from Three.js called “children. Length,” the number of Question 1 – How many balloons did you pop?
child elements within the scene is obtained. This number
is then appended as the ID for each generated balloon by • Objective – This question is regarding the number
using “sceneRef.current.child.length.” of balloons the user popped. In this case, it tests the
user’s ability to focus on the given task and assesses
Finally, the event listener is attached to each balloon to his/her memory skills.
facilitate the user’s interaction through clicks. In this case, • Mechanism – The user is asked to enter the number
upon clicking a balloon, a function is triggered to tally and of balloons popped, after which the given answer is
store the balloon popped by the user in a variable, after which compared to the data from the game. If the user fails
the balloon is simultaneously removed from the scene. Thus, to accurately report the number of balloons popped,
a function is developed to track the number of balloons that then it indicates potential challenges in maintaining
the user pops. The accumulated data is then passed on to attention and focus during repetitive activities. In this
the Questionnaire section to analyze the user’s performance. case, the randomly placed animals might have garnered
the attention of the user, while the color of the balloons
3. Results might have triggered the ADHD symptoms in the
3.1. Analyzing the user’s performance user. As stated earlier, individuals with ADHD often
demonstrate susceptibility to distraction, particularly
In the Mind Marvel platform, the Questionnaire section in contexts involving detailed simulations.
is the component in which the user’s performance is • Outcome – Correct responses from the user represent
strong attentional abilities and accurate information
reports, whereas incorrect responses indicate the
presence of a short attention span.
Question 2 – Count the creatures, animals, and birds, that
you have observed in the game.
• Objective – This question tests the user’s awareness
Figure 9. Code snippet of the balloon hit method. Image created by the of the simulated environment and his/her ability to
authors. complete the given task. It also determines if the user
was distracted by the various simulations and sounds.
• Mechanism – The VR environment in this game was
created with 3D animated models, which offer the
user an immersive simulation of real-world scenarios,
while simultaneously evaluating his/her ability to focus
on completing the designated task. In addition, the
use of animals as distractions introduces an element of
impulsivity. In this case, individuals with ADHD tend
to have difficulty avoiding external interactions when
focusing on the main task.
Figure 10. Example of the responses to Question 1 vs. correct and In this game, the tendency of individuals with ADHD
incorrect inputs. Image created by the authors. to impulsively engage with the animals reflects impulsivity,

Volume 3 Issue 4 (2024) 9 doi: 10.36922/an.4073