New digital game uses neuroscience to combat attention deficit in children

A pioneering Irish company is leading the way in digital brain health by improving focus for kids using a new digital game that uses neuroscience to aid concentration!

The idea behind Cortechs’ new game, Zip and the Misty Mountain, is to help children who find it hard to concentrate – particularly those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or attention difficulties, who have huge challenges staying focused on their homework or on simple day-to-day tasks.

And as Cortechs CEO Áine Behan points out, with the HSEs spending €2.5 million on ADHD medication in 2013 and thousands of Irish children prescribed this medication, she is not surprised that parents are desperate to find drug-free, scientifically backed alternatives to improve their children’s focus.

“At Cortechs, we are passionate about smart gaming designed around neuroscience. We use brain powered play with brainwaves as a powerful tool to modify behaviours in ADHD, autism and with distracted kids that want to improve their focus,” she explains.

“Neurofeedback is a way of changing the way your brain works. It does not involve anything invasive – it is based on learning and trains the brain to modify behaviours around attention and relaxation. In essence, neurofeedback allows you to learn how to gain more control over the way your brain works and it uses your brainwaves to do this,” adds Áine.

The Cortechs CEO has a PhD in Neuroscience and is a former RCSI research lecturer with over ten years’ experience in the area.

Cortechs is a privately held company established in Dublin by Áine, who orignally hails from Clonmel, and since its foundation has won many notable accolades and rewards.

Áine was South Dublin Business Chamber’s Female Entrepreneur 2013 and has been featured by Silicon Republic as a Women Invent start-up to watch, in 2014.

Cortechs won BBC Grand Challenge at TVX 2014 and was Girls in Tech’s only Irish finalist (and innovative pitch winner) of five from 178 applicants across Europe in September 2014.

Part of this roll-out will see Áine and her team visit schools around Galway city and county in the months ahead to display the game and its benefits to students and teachers.

“In the game, Zip is a young apprentice on the Misty Mountain tasked with the challenge of racing to the head temple to wake the Master.

“Along the way, Zip has to leap over obstacles, gather glowing gems and unlock each temple door that protects the path to the Master at the top of Misty Mountain. However, mastering concentration & relaxation is core to unlocking Zips’ powers so Zip can complete the game.

“We want our healthy game can be used as a tool to help any distracted child improve their focus whatever their background or condition,” she says..

Zip and the Misty Mountain game will be initially available for app download to Android with iOS to follow. You can buy this Zip game and headset bundle online from October 6 at www.cortechs.ie.

And they will follow up with a suite of Zip childrens games plus brain fitness apps for adults suitable for both Android and iOS.