MUDGAME-Academics. Benefits of Exergames on Neurocognitive Functions and Academic Performance in Teenagers Suffering From Depression

The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes derived from exergames (video games that include cognitive and physical stimulation simultaneously), in terms of cognitive functioning, academic performance, psycho-motor abilities, and its neural substrate, in teenagers suffering from depression. The experiment consists in a randomized three-arms controlled study. After being informed about the study and potential risks, and given written informed consent, young participants with depression will be randomly distributed into three experimental groups: an intervention group that will train with exergames, an active control group that will train only with cognitive games, and a passive control group or wait-list. Cognitive Functions and Academic Performance will be evaluated in three different moments: before the training intervention, after the intervention, and three months after finishing the training intervention. Researchers will collect cognitive-behavioral, academic, and neural information (event-related potentials), and performing analysis of variance to compare the outcomes of the diverse groups at the three different time points, scientists will analyze the benefits of exergames on cognition and academic performance, and the neuronal substrate of the resulting effects. This experiment is related with a registered clinical trial entitled: MUDgame. ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06536530 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06536530)