Meet the game that’s changing the way we treat chronic pain. Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed a game that helps people manage pain without medication. It’s part of a project called PainWaive, which uses a special headset and a tablet to monitor brain activity.
The idea behind PainWaive is to help people control their brain waves, which can contribute to chronic pain. The game is simple: players look at a screen with a jellyfish on it and try to relax. As they calm down, the water on the screen changes color. The headset tracks the player’s brain waves, and the game responds by changing the screen.
But how did this game come about? It all started with a researcher named Sylvia Gustin, who studied how the brain works when it’s in pain. She found that people with chronic pain have different brain wave patterns than people without pain. Specifically, they have more slow theta waves, fewer alpha waves, and more fast beta waves.
Gustin and her team thought, “What if we could develop a treatment that targets these abnormal brain waves?” They worked with a team of experts to create PainWaive, a game that helps people change their brain wave patterns and reduce their pain.
So, how does it work? Players get a kit with a headset and a tablet, and they play the game for a few minutes a day. The headset uses special sensors to track their brain waves, and the game responds by changing the screen. It’s like a feedback loop: the player relaxes, the brain waves change, and the game responds.
The results are impressive. In a study of over 100 people, at least 75% of players saw a significant reduction in their pain levels. That’s a big deal, especially since the game is completely non-invasive and doesn’t use any medication.
As one researcher put it, “This game is a breakthrough in pain management. It shows that technology and health are closely linked, and that we can use games to improve our health.”
The game is still in the early stages, but it’s already showing promise. And the best part? It’s a game, not a treatment, so it’s something that people can use in the comfort of their own homes.
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