Investigating the Effects of Feedback Modality on Sustained Attention and Performance in a Serious Game: A Pilot Study

This pilot study evaluates the impact of auditory, visual, and tactile feedback modalities on sustained attention and performance within a serious gaming environment. By utilizing a custom-built car racing game over a 12-session training period, the research examines how these sensory inputs influence cognitive control and error reduction in a cohort of 19 healthy female participants. The methodology employs Hidden Markov Models to track behavioral transitions between focused and distracted states, providing a granular look at how feedback influences decision-making precision rather than macro-level strategic path choices.

The findings indicate that while all three feedback modalities effectively reduce commission errors, they operate on distinct temporal scales. Auditory feedback offers the most immediate performance benefits, whereas visual and tactile feedback demonstrate superior efficacy in long-term error reduction. Despite these differences in temporal efficiency, the study concludes that feedback modality does not significantly alter the fundamental navigation strategies employed by players. Instead, the primary contribution of these sensory inputs is the refinement of decision-making precision and the stabilization of attentional states over the course of the training program.

These results suggest that game designers can strategically implement specific feedback types based on whether the objective is immediate performance gains or sustained long-term improvement. Future research is encouraged to expand these findings to broader developmental trajectories and clinical populations, particularly those diagnosed with attention deficits such as ADHD. By isolating the effects of sensory feedback on cognitive performance, this study provides a foundational framework for optimizing serious games as tools for cognitive training and attentional enhancement.