Objective: Problematic internet gaming in adolescents is associated with various negative outcomes, such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and attention problems. We hypothesized that game coding education, by improving adolescents’ self-esteem, would be more effective than game literacy education in mitigating problematic internet gaming. Methods: A total of 126 adolescents who voluntarily applied for the game coding education and game literacy education program of the “Visiting Game Class” project operated by the Game Cultural Foundation participated in this study. We collected data on demographics, gaming patterns, and psychological status, including positive or negative perceptions of online games, depression, and anxiety. We designated those with scores higher than 40 on Young’s Internet Addiction Scale as the “problematic internet gaming” group. Results: Only game coding education was significantly effective in decreasing internet use, lowering depressive symptoms, and improving self-esteem. In the hierarchical logistic regression analysis, more frequent education time, coding education, stronger negative perceptions of gaming, and high self-esteem predicted decreased internet gaming among participants exhibiting problematic internet gameplay. Conclusion Game coding education effectively mitigates problematic gaming by improving adolescents’ self-esteem. Thus, it may be beneficial to increase education time and devise game education programs tailored to adolescents’ psychological status.

Background: Emotion recognition is essential to the social adjustment and social interaction of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). Given that music is a medium for expressing and conveying human emotion, we conducted this preliminary study to identify musical passages representing the basic human emotions of happiness, sadness, and anger, with the goal of developing a music-based emotion perception scale for IDDs. Methods: To identify musical passages for emotion perception, 20 certified music therapists evaluated 100 selected musical passages and established 60 pieces that yielded the highest agreement for each emotion category. During the second phase of this study, 300 neurotypical participants rated 60 passages in terms of the perceived type and intensity of emotions expressed. Results: The 60 passages showed high reliability and were statistically classified into three factors: happiness, sadness, and anger. The k-means cluster analysis yielded a cut-off score of 41 for the low emotion perception group (F = 1120.63, P < 0.001). The hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed that only model 3 (musical passages) was significantly associated with low emotion perception (step χ 2 = 227.8, P < 0.001). Conclusion The selected musical passages demonstrated high reliability and established three factors for identifying perceptions of happiness, sadness, and anger. Neither psychological status nor individual demographic characteristics affected the emotion perception results.

Background: Music is regarded as a beneficial tool for assessing the clinical symptoms and communication skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism. The present study developed a music-based attention test (MAT) for individuals with autism using music parameters and the algorithm of the comprehensive attention test (CAT). Methods: We recruited 51 autistic individuals and 50 neurotypical individuals to participate in the CAT, MAT, and social intelligence tests. The reliability and validity of the MAT were assessed using exploratory factor analysis, concurrent validity, and criterion-related validity. Results: The MAT had sound internal consistency (high Cronbach’s α = 0.948). In addition, the MAT had suitable concurrent validity in the correlation between CAT and MAT, as well as good criterion validity when attention was measured using the MAT and was compared between autistic individuals and neurotypical individuals. Attention evaluated using the MAT was associated with the social quotient in individuals with autism. Conclusions The MAT could be a relevant tool for gauging attention in individuals with ASD.Furthermore, attention determined using the MAT may be correlated with social quotient in autistic individuals. Future studies should consider that using music in the field of attention could improve the social quotient of individuals with autism.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a nonpharmacologic treatment in depressed hemodialysis patients. Methods: Patients who scored ≥ 5 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were randomized to either the rTMS (n = 7) or sham group (n = 7). The rTMS group was stimulated with a 110% motor threshold and 10 Hz on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for 20 minutes, three times a week, for 4 weeks. In the sham group, the “1-wing 90-degree method” was used. We analyzed clinical indices before and after the intervention, as well as data from quantitative electroencephalography (frontal alpha asymmetry [FAA]), and various psychiatric questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory [BAI], Symptom Checklist-90-Revised Somatization Subscale [SCL-90R-SOM]), and Perceived Stress Scale. Results: One month after rTMS, the changes in hemoglobin A1c levels in the rTMS group were significantly greater than those in the sham group (F = 6.687, P = 0.032). The changes in BAI scores in the rTMS group were significantly greater than those in the sham group (F = 6.700,P = 0.025), and the changes in SCL-90R-SOM scores in the rTMS group were greater than those in the sham group (F = 4.943, P = 0.048). In addition, the changes in the FAA value at the F7 and F8 electrodes in the rTMS group were greater than those in the sham group (F = 6.468, P = 0.027). Conclusion In depressed hemodialysis patients, rTMS may improve anxiety and somatization symptoms, which may lead to improvements in clinical measures.