Signs of Problematic Internet use Affect Resting-State EEG Microstates

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Digital Health

Background:

• Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is rising due to easy internet access and misuse.
• Research links excessive digital media use to negative physical, psychological, social, and neurological outcomes.
• Identifying reliable neurophysiological markers for PIU severity is a key research challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate neurophysiological markers of PIU severity using electroencephalogram (EEG) microstates.
• To examine the relationship between PIU, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
• To differentiate neural correlates specific to PIU from general psychopathology.

Main Methods:

• 156 healthy internet users completed the PIUQ-9, anxiety, depression, and OCD symptom measures.
• Resting-state EEG was recorded and analyzed using microstate (MS) analysis, extracting 7 MS classes.
• Psychological and neurophysiological profiles were compared between High and Low PIU groups.

Main Results:

• Increased occurrence and time coverage of MS E, associated with interoception and emotional processing, correlated significantly with PIU scores.
• MS E alterations were observed in both the full sample and High vs. Low PIU groups.
• Parameters of MS B, MS C, and MS D showed negative associations with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Altered MS E dynamics may serve as a potential early functional biomarker for PIU.
• These findings suggest MS E reflects neural changes specific to problematic internet behavior.
• This biomarker may help distinguish PIU from general psychopathology, particularly anxiety symptoms.