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Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Mind-Body-Movement Practices on Brain Function
Published on: January 26, 2024
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Empowerment contributes to exploration behaviour in a creative video game.
Franziska Brändle1, Lena J Stocks2, Joshua B Tenenbaum3,4
1Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany. franziska.braendle@tuebingen.mpg.de.
Nature Human Behaviour
|July 24, 2023
Summary
Human exploration is driven by more than just rewards; players seek to create empowering objects. This intrinsic motivation relies on real-world knowledge, guiding exploration in complex environments.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Game Studies
Background:
- Traditional studies of human exploration often overlook complex strategies, focusing instead on serendipitous discovery.
- Richly structured environments, like the online game 'Little Alchemy 2', offer unique insights into diverse exploration behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the exploration strategies employed by players in a complex, semantically rich digital environment.
- To differentiate between extrinsic reward-driven exploration and intrinsic motivation for empowerment.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a large dataset (29,493 players) from 'Little Alchemy 2', a game involving element combination.
- Comparison of player behavior in the standard game versus a variant lacking recognizable semantics.
Main Results:
- Players are motivated by creating objects that enhance their ability to create further objects (empowerment).
- This drive for empowerment is diminished in a game variant lacking real-world semantics.
- Player exploration is guided by their knowledge of the world and its possibilities.
Conclusions:
- Intrinsic motivation, particularly the drive for empowerment, is a significant factor in exploration within complex domains.
- Semantic richness and real-world knowledge are crucial for fostering this intrinsic motivation.
- Findings suggest new approaches for designing engaging and motivating digital environments.
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