No longer exclusively the basement hobby of teenage boys, many adults are now looking to video games both to alleviate boredom and relieve stress. In the case of stress, does video game playing really work? The Technology and Aging Lab in the Department of Psychology at University of Central Florida (UCF) has investigated various methods of reducing stress, including video games, exposure to nature, and virtual reality. Join Dr. Daniel McConnell, associate Psychology professor at UCF, as he discusses these research findings, diving deeper into what experimental psychologists have learned about improving cognitive and mental health and the theories surrounding brain function.

By participating in this program, you can expect to learn:

• whether video games can reduce stress;
• whether and how much exposure to nature can reduce stress;
• and how aerobic activity can reduce stress and improve cognition.

This program is presented by Dr. Daniel McConnell and is hosted by the Winter Park Health Foundation.

How to join the Zoom Program:

Upon registration for this program, you will receive two emails:

• One email from Eventbrite: you can either disregard this email or save it for your records. No action needed with this message.

• One email from the Center for Health & Wellbeing: this email will contain your link to join the Zoom meeting. Simply select the link and the Zoom Meeting will launch. Please allow yourself five – 10 minutes before program start to launch Zoom and confirm your technology is properly working.

By participating in this program, you agree to the CHWB’s Gracious Space policy.

Unless otherwise noted, all CHWB Digital Education programs hosted via Zoom are recorded and made available for on-demand viewing on WellbeingNetwork.org. If you prefer to be left out of the program’s recording, please leave your camera and microphone off for the duration of the program.

About Your Program Presenter

Dr. Daniel McConnell is an associate professor of Psychology at the University of Central Florida (UCF), where he teaches more than 1,000 undergraduate students each year. Dr. McConnell is affiliated with the UCF College of Sciences Technology and Aging Lab, which is part of the Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology program, and the Modeling, Simulation, and Training program at UCF. His research interests include visual perception, learning and control of motor skills, and human performance in virtual reality. McConnell holds a Ph.D. in Sensory Psychology from Indiana University and worked at the University of Pennsylvania and Wichita State University before coming to the University of Central Florida in 2007.