Gamers 'hear screams and explosions' after long sessions
One survey respondent heard a voice whispering ‘death’ for days
Some participants said that the experiences were "scary", "annoying", "maddening" and "disconcerting"
Gamers who play for hours on end risk hearing “maddening” screams, explosions and music in their heads, according to a new study.
Respondents heard sound effects, music and characters’ voices during daily routines after particularly long sessions.
The study, compiled from responses by 1,244 forum users, explored the concept of “game transfer phenomena” – experiences where players’ perceptions, cognitions and behaviours are influenced by images seen while gaming.
12pc of the respondents told scientists at Nottingham Trent University’s International Gaming Research Unit that they had had auditory experiences after gaming.
Vehicles, lasers, bullets and beeping were among the most common sounds heard, often without triggers.
One gamer heard a voice whispering ‘death’ repeatedly for days, while the words ‘go, go, go’ repeated in the head of another when he encountered crowds on a subway platform.
Some participants said that the experiences were "scary", "annoying", "maddening" and "disconcerting". Hearing the sounds also caused sleep deprivation for some gamers.
"These experiences can sometimes result in illogical thoughts and behaviours,” said Angelica Ortiz De Gortari, a psychology researcher in Nottingham Trent University’s School of Social Sciences.
“It's important to help gamers understand their experiences since re-experiencing sounds and voices may provoke distress, especially when associated with dangerous situations in the game."
In previous studies, the researchers found that gamers who played for a long time experienced hallucinations or carried out impulsive behaviours. Some said that they had seen "coloured images" and "heads up displays" while driving on the motorway.
