Games.net

A virtual crack den developed by researchers at Duke University uses Pavlovian conditioning to help real crack addicts fight cravings.

This virtual situation makes me want to do some crack!

ABC News reports that Duke University psychologist Zach Rosenthal has developed a video game that is designed to help real-world crack addicts (no, not virtual ones) fight their cravings. When someone who is addicted to crack cocaine plays the game they are put in a virtual setting to stimulate that person's craving. Rosenthal said:

"What we're trying to do is take people into a virtual crack-related neighborhood or crack-related setting and have them experience cravings, just like they would in the real world,"

In fact, the Durham, NC Police department took researchers to actual crack dens so that the game's virtual crack dens would look and feel as realistic as possible. After the game successfully triggers the patients craving, he or she is told to rate their craving and forced to allow it to subside. The magic moment comes when an audio tone is played as the patient's craving dulls. The theory is the patient will associate the tone with the feeling of overcoming the craving. The result is an example of classical or Pavlovian conditioning:

"If an addict ends up in a tempting situation, he or she can take out the phone donated by the program, dial a number and hear that tone. The addict remembers the sound learned in the therapy session, and the craving should subside."

This game is one of many in the emerging field of smart games or video games that are used for real world benefits. It's similar to educational video games and games like America's Army, which is used for military training. Rosenthal talks about the effect of his project:

"This isn't about cocaine, and this isn't really about substance use," He said. "This is about creating new learning and extending that learning to the real world."

This game could be the next step in expanding the uses of video games. It makes me think that if this sort of research continues with successful results we might replace school, work and even health care with video games. Awesome? I don't know.

games

Comments [ 1 ] Post your comment subscribe to this rss feed

VivaLeResistance

Posted at: 11/07/07 at 7:37 AM PST

no comment on drugs...lol...

Post Your Comment

Games.net's Countdown to...