Competitive video gaming, or "e-sports," is where players or teams compete in organized tournaments, often broadcast online, across genres like shooters, strategy, and sports games. It's big, growing and is definitely here to stay, expected to reach a revenue of US$4.3 billion globally in 2024, with almost 900 million users predicted by 2029^*.

The thrill of not knowing who will win drives the popularity of e-sports. But what if you could predict the winner in advance?

Measuring Winning and Losing Thoughts

NTT researchers may have found a way to do just that. By analyzing brain waves recorded before matches, they have identified patterns strongly linked to winning or losing. Using electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive method for measuring the brain's electrical activity, NTT has developed a machine learning model capable of predicting match outcomes with a very high level of accuracy.

Traditional analytics focus on physical performance or previous results, but these don't account for the mental state of players. And that's often the key element in determining game outcomes. Mental conditioning, especially under pressure, is often overlooked. By measuring, examining and then using brain wave data, NTT offers something entirely new.

Measuring Brain Waves with EEG

EEG works by placing sensors on the scalp to measure the brain's electrical signals. It gives real-time insights into brain activity. In their study, NTT researchers analyzed brain waves in e-sports fighting games, where physical motor function is less of a factor compared to mental strategy and decision-making. They focused on brain wave patterns just before matches, identifying activity in brain regions associated with strategic thinking and emotional control. The left frontal brain region, in particular, showed higher activity linked to success in games. Using these EEG patterns, NTT then created a predictive model that could forecast both expected wins and surprise upsets.

80%

Sounds like science-fiction, right? It's not. The model showed amazing accuracy, with about 80% of matches predicted correctly. Once more: e-sports matches, predicted in advance, with the right answer eight times out of ten. Traditional prediction methods, which rely on past performance data, often miss critical elements like the mental state of competitors. NTT's EEG-based technology incorporates the all-important mental component.

So far, so good. But it's just e-sports. What could this possibly mean for the real world? More than you might think.

Meanwhile, in the Real World

In traditional sports, EEG data could help athletes identify mental states that lead to optimal performance, such as calming pre-game nerves or sharpening focus before critical moments. In medicine, having a better understanding of the nature of mental preparedness could mean improved outcomes in high-stakes tasks like surgery. Even for students, EEG could help optimize mental states during exams or presentations, potentially leading to better results through personalized mental conditioning programs. That's just three examples, but the possibilities are endless.

Looking ahead, NTT's research has the potential to enable the development of personalized mental training programs, where individuals fine-tune their brain activity to achieve peak performance in any field. Imagine a world where athletes, surgeons, and students can "train" their minds just as they train their physical bodies. By digitizing brain wave patterns, expert skills that were once difficult to transfer could become easier to teach and replicate.

Digital Twins

The concept is an excellent match to NTT's broader work with digital twin computing, which aims to create digital representations of the real world, including human skills and behaviors. Using these mental models along with digital twins, NTT's technology could transform the way individuals prepare for high-performance situations, allowing for precise, data-driven mental conditioning.

Better Thinking, Superior Performance

It's a huge step forward in understanding how the brain influences performance. By focusing on brain waves rather than just physical attributes or past results, NTT's research opens up new possibilities for improving outcomes in sports, education, and medicine. The combination of neuroscience and technology has the potential to unlock new ways to deliver superior human performance, a world where we are all better mentally prepared for whatever challenges we face.

NTT—Innovating the Future of Sports

For further information, please see this link:
https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2024/07/18/240718a.html

If you have any questions on the content of this article, please contact:
NTT Science and Core Technology Laboratory Group
Public Relations
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