Effect of Computer-Based Game and HIIT Towards Symptoms, Executive Function and Neuroplasticity in Teens with IGD

Computer-based game intervention will be done three times a week, every morning before school lessons begin or during break time. Researchers will give a brief explanation of the rules on how to play the game before the intervention begins. In the game, participants will act as a fruit truck delivery driver and will have to sort out fruit delivery to different houses according to the instructions of the game. For example, the instruction starts with delivering a yellow-colored banana to a house with a red-colored roof, or delivering a purple-colored grape to a house with a blue-colored roof. Participants will first have to finish a minimum of three tutorial rounds reaching ≥75% correct delivery. Instructions will be divided into four stages; visual stimulus, auditory stimulus, visual stimulus with an obstacle, auditory stimulus with an obstacle. Each round will last for 2 minutes. Total time needed to complete a single computer-based intervention session is around 30-45 minutes.

HIIT will be done two times a week during physical education hours (in the school's sports field) led by the school's physical education teacher and also certified physical trainers who have undergone training supervised by a sports medicine physician. Before the start of each HIIT session, participants will have their pulse rate assessed with a pulse oximetry and then undergo warm-up for 5 minutes. The duration of each HIIT session will be continuously extended starting at around 4 minutes (1 tabata block/8 moves) during the first week to 8 minutes (2 tabata block/16 moves) during the final week. A single tabata block moveset incorporates 8 total moves; squat jump, push up, high skipping, burpees, isometric front plank, multi jumps on bench, mountain climber in hand plank and lateral sprint (5m). Each move will be done for 20 seconds, followed by a 10 second rest. Pulse rate will be assessed again after the HIIT session and then participants will undergo cooling down and relaxation.