Analog and Digital Gameplay in the Human Brain

This chapter explores board and video games from a cognitive neuroscience perspective, emphasizing their growing relevance in education and healthcare. It outlines the core elements of games—mechanics, narratives, and feedback systems—central to game-based learning and gamification, and presents key mechanics as practical resources for designers in both analog and digital formats. Empirical findings are reviewed on cognitive, behavioral, and neural outcomes: video games engage dopaminergic reward pathways to enhance attention, flexibility, and multitasking, while board games foster social reasoning, executive control, and long-term planning. Neuroimaging and behavioral evidence shows both benefits and risks, from motivational gains to addictive patterns. The chapter concludes with real-world applications and methodological challenges, underscoring the need for ecologically valid designs, interdisciplinary collaboration, and serious games for cognitive, educational, and mental health purposes.