Health/Wellbeing
Finnish researchers developing game that eases depression symptoms
Despite feeling and looking like a modern action video game, a game is in development in Finland which could help in the treatment of depression when combined with drug and other therapies. Aleksi Teivainen
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The game tasks the player with solving challenges in a fantasy city while its network of underlying features produces a therapeutic effect, alleviating the symptoms of depression and improving cognitive performance.
The idea stems from the finding that playing a perceptual video training game can improve the visual acuity of patients with amblyopia, or lazy eye.
Science/Research
Funding aplenty for Finnish research
Three Finnish universities have announced significant funding for research projects in fields such as ophthalmology, digital medicine, low-carbon shipping, and wear- and liquid-repellent surface materials. Aleksi Teivainen
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Aalto University reported last week that six of its research projects have been granted a total of three million euros under Future Makers, a joint funding programme of Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation and the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation.
The research topics range from combining brain and game research to create digital therapeutics for psychological conditions like depression, utilising small satellite technology to provide accurate location and navigation to indoor facilities such as factories, and developing semi-autonomous forestry equipment for areas moulded by the climate crisis, all the way to developing new liquid- and wear-repellent surf