Semester of Graduation

Spring 2020

Degree

Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS)

Department

Computer Science

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Music and Serious Games are separately useful alternative therapy methods for helping people with a cognitive disorder, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The goal of this thesis is to explore the effect of background music on children with and without ADHD. In this study, a simple Tetris game is designed with Beethoven, Mozart music, and no-music. There are different brainwave techniques for recording; among others, the electroencephalography (EEG) allows for the most efficient use of BCI. We recorded the EEG brain signals of the regular and ADHD subjects who played the Tetris we designed according to our protocol that consists of three trials with three different background music. Attention related Alpha and Beta waves of EEG signals analyzed based on time and time-frequency domain features. The changes in the data over the 1-minute Tetris game sections are investigated with the Short-time Fourier Transform (STFT) method. The results showed that music has a considerable impact on attention of children. When it comes to music types, in general, Mozart music increases Beta waves while decreasing the Alpha band waves for subjects without ADHD. On the other hand, Beethoven music increased both Alpha and Beta band values for children with ADHD.

Committee Chair

Soysal, Omer

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.5151

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