Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id BAA09574 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 1 Nov 2001 01:36:52 GMT From: Philip Jonkers <P.A.E.Jonkers@phys.rug.nl> X-Authentication-Warning: rugth1.phys.rug.nl: www-data set sender to jonkers@localhost using -f To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: RE: Study shows brain can learn without really trying Message-ID: <1004578315.3be0a60b1addc@rugth1.phys.rug.nl> Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 02:31:55 +0100 (CET) References: <E15yvRc-0000dk-00@dryctnath.mmu.ac.uk> In-Reply-To: <E15yvRc-0000dk-00@dryctnath.mmu.ac.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit User-Agent: IMP/PHP IMAP webmail program 2.2.6 X-Originating-IP: 128.32.195.20 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> > I think their line was more like that weird sensation you get (this
> > may be a delusion I don't know) of being able to play a computer game
> >better whilst having a conversation with someone else, and concentrating
> > more on the conversation. I have found, on occasion, that I"ve managed to
> > get high scores whilst talking to someone about something entirely unrelated
> >to the game I'm playing (you can tell I work hard at my job can't you!).
>
> Just the same for me!
That people seem to perform at computer games better when their main attention
is drawn away seems to indicate that these games lay heavy on reaction speed
rather than attention. Being consciously focused may be good for thinking
games (like adventures) but for shoot-em ups (or what have you) emphasizing
on sheer reaction speed, consciousness may cripple performance for the
simple reason that making conscious decisions takes time. If this usually
beneficient and useful but time-consuming facility is neutralized, fast
semi-conscious or non-conscious decision making remains. Perhaps this is why
people perform better at simple computer games while being consciously
distracted.
Philip.
===============================================================
This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Nov 01 2001 - 01:42:21 GMT