The Use of a Serious Game to Assess Inhibition Mechanisms in Children

The design and implementation of a serious game (SG) concerning inhibition skills inchildren are presented. The SG consists of a set of activities, each eliciting the tendencyto respond in an immediate and inappropriate (wrong) way. The SG is based on theDual Pathway model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) proposed bySonuga-Barke and on the Unity/Diversity model of executive functions proposed byMiyake. In the SG, children must block impulsive tendencies, reflect upon the situation,inhibit irrelevant thoughts, and find the non-immediate solution. A study was carried outby testing the SG on typically developing primary school children (30 children, 16 boys;age, M = 9.30 years, SD = 0.87) to verify that it measures the same variables addressedby tests usually employed to assess attention ability in children and to diagnose ADHD.Three standardized tasks belonging to the Italian Battery for ADHD were administered,as well as an ad hoc questionnaire devised to check the acceptability, usability, andcomprehensibility of the SG. Positive correlations between impulsiveness as measuredby standard tests and impulsiveness scores in the SG emerged. These findings supportthe notion that skills associated with the control of impulsivity are involved in the SG.Furthermore, self-report ratings in the questionnaire showed that the SG is easy to beunderstood, is engaging, and elicits positive reactions in children.