EEG Dataset Captures Brain Activity of MOBA Gamers in Natural Settings

Published: July 2, 2025 | Journal: Scientific Data

Overview

A novel EEG dataset has been released, capturing real-time brain activity of players during Mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) gaming in naturalistic conditions. The study involved 23 participants engaged in six matches of Honor of Kings, with 64-channel EEG and synchronized gameplay video recordings. This open-access dataset offers high temporal resolution insights into neurophysiological responses related to key in-game events like player kills and deaths. Researchers can leverage this to better understand gaming behavior and addiction mechanisms with high ecological validity.

Significance of the Study

MOBA games are among the most popular competitive mobile games globally, especially in Asia. However, excessive gaming can lead to Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), a condition affecting academic, social, and personal well-being. With IGD prevalence at 13.4%, nearly half involve MOBA play, prompting a need to study the neurobiological underpinnings linked to addictive behaviors in this genre.

Previous neuroimaging work suggests gameplay impacts brain function and structure, with mixed findings on cognitive effects. Importantly, varied addictive risk factors across game types necessitate genre-specific research. However, most neurophysiological studies have been conducted in controlled lab settings, limiting real-world applicability.

This dataset addresses these gaps by:

• Providing EEG data recorded in natural gaming environments.
• Mapping neurological activity at millisecond resolution aligned with specific in-game events.
• Incorporating psychological assessments related to addiction, impulsivity, and emotional regulation.

Methodology

Participants

• Sample: 23 experienced MOBA gamers (15 males, 8 females; mean age 19.7).
• Criteria: Minimum one year gaming experience; no history of neurological or psychiatric disorders.
• Consent: Informed consent obtained, including permissions for open data sharing with anonymization safeguards.

Data Collection Workflow

1. Psychological Scales: Included IGD-20, impulsivity, and emotional regulation questionnaires.
2. Resting-State EEG: Recorded under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions before gameplay.
3. Gameplay EEG: 64-channel EEG recorded during six real Honor of Kings matches.
4. Event Marking: Experimental protocol accurately timestamped kills and deaths within EEG data.
5. Supplementary Data: Synchronized gameplay video and demographic information.

Data Integrity and Ethics

The study followed ethical standards per the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by Chongqing Medical University’s Ethics Committee. Participants were compensated, and minors’ participation included guardian consent.

Applications and Future Directions

This dataset enables the exploration of:

• Real-time brain responses to rewarding (kills) and adverse (deaths) events in MOBA games.
• Relationships between neurophysiological patterns and psychological traits like addiction severity and emotional regulation.
• Development of targeted interventions considering specific game mechanics and player characteristics.
• Further research into addiction mechanisms with improved ecological validity compared to traditional lab settings.

By combining neural, behavioral, and psychological data, this resource stands to significantly advance understanding of gaming addiction and cognitive dynamics in naturalistic MOBA gameplay.

Access and Citation

The full dataset and detailed methodology are openly accessible via Scientific Data (Volume 12, Article 1129, 2025).

Citation: Li H.-Z. et al., EEG dataset from playing Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games in natural settings. Scientific Data 12, 1129 (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41597-025-1129-x

References Highlight

• IGD prevalence linked heavily to MOBA games (13.4% prevalence, 49.4% MOBA-related IGD cases).
• Prior neuroimaging studies reveal brain reward system and cognitive control involvement during gameplay.
• Reinforcement-based addiction models underscore the importance of reward timing in gameplay.
• EEG’s millisecond accuracy makes it a powerful tool for studying real-time neural dynamics during gaming.

For researchers, clinicians, and game developers, this high-quality EEG dataset provides unprecedented insight into the neurobiology of MOBA gaming in a real-world context, fostering advances in cognitive neuroscience and addiction research.

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