Brain response to 3D games as compared to 2D games

Objectives: Recent developments in consumer 3D viewing technologies are resulting in the transition from 2D to 3D video games. Two main types of consumer 3D viewing technologies are currently available: one with active shutter glasses and the other with cinema-type passive polarized glasses. However, the effects of these 3D technologies are relatively unknown. In this research, we study the changes in heart and brain activities due to 3D game-playing.
Methods: The EEG study is conducted with 29 subjects (24 male, 5 female; mean age 21.79 ± 1.63 years), but 3 subjects were excluded due to data corruption. For ECG, only 21 subjects (17 males, 4 females) were considered. Two 3D TVs were selected, one with active shutter glasses and other with passive polarized glasses. 24 channel EEG machine was used for data collection. The sampling rate was 256 Hz and resolution was 24 bits. A car racing game was selected for the experiment. EEG and ECG recordings were made while subjects played the game in 2D mode for 20 minutes followed by playing the same game in 3D mode. There was a break of approximately 6 minutes in between sessions where subjects filled in the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). The subjects filled in the 3D game playing experience feedback form at the end of experiment.
Results: The ECG analysis found that the heart rate decreases while playing the game in 3D mode as compared to 2D mode. Between the two types of 3D glasses, the heart rate is lower when using active shutter glasses as compared to when using passive polarized glasses. The EEG analysis found a higher theta and alpha activity for 3D game play, while in 2D game play, there is higher beta and gamma activity in the prefrontal, frontal and temporal areas. For the two 3D modes, higher brain activity is observed for passive polarized glasses in the frontal and occipital lobes in theta and alpha bands whereas for active shutter glasses, the activity is higher in prefrontal in the beta and gamma bands. The complexity analysis showed that the complexity increases in 3D as compared to 2D game play.
Conclusion: From the results, it is seen that the working memory and attention are increased in 3D game play. This increase is due to the processing of more data in 3D as compared to 2D. For the comparison between the two 3D modes, subjective feedback was equally divided despite differences in activation in visual regions of the brain.