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Differential Outcomes Training of Visuospatial Memory: A Gamified Approach Using a Socially Assistive Robot

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Abstract

This study represents the first stage of evaluating whether cognitive training interventions may be facilitated by the presence of a socially assistive robot (SAR) and gamification. Our experimental setup involves using a SAR providing feedback to a gamified visuospatial working memory task, administered according to a differential outcomes training (DOT) protocol. The study’s main objective was to investigate whether performance and attitude towards the task would be affected by different robotic setups (none, simulated or physical) and in relation to different challenge levels. We measured performance accuracy on the gamified visuospatial memory task and self-reported affective ratings, which are relevant for assessing attitude towards the task and providing indicators to the potential for using a SAR for a longer-term cognitive intervention. Additionally, we conducted exploratory analyses of eye movement strategies for memory encoding during the task. The results demonstrated a significant differential outcomes effect (DOE) on memory performance accuracy, regardless of Robot type and Challenge level, providing evidence that a DOE can still be obtained when a SAR interacts with participants. Moreover, the results from the affective ratings revealed that participants accompanied by the physical robot reported lower levels of stress and increased levels of control. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, a DOE using a SAR in a gamified context. This result, coupled with positive subjective reporting of the human-robot interactive experience of participants, demonstrates the potential for using a SAR to: i) promote positive attitudes for a DOT-based cognitive intervention, without ii) negatively affecting task performance.

Description

Funder: Demensförbundet; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010773

Keywords

46 Information and Computing Sciences, 4608 Human-Centred Computing, Brain Disorders, Mental Health, Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities, Behavioral and Social Science, Neurosciences, Clinical Research

Journal Title

International Journal of Social Robotics

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1875-4791
1875-4805

Volume Title

16

Publisher

Springer
Sponsorship
Brain+ (E115073))
Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (IB2021-8964))
This work never received any official funding. It was partly secondarily supported by STINT and other Swedish funds.