Regular Exercise Correlates With Enhanced Self-Control and Prefrontal Function in Excessive Short-Video Users

This study investigated the associations between physical activity and short-video viewing duration on self-control behavior and prefrontal cortical activation in college students.

Male college students (N = 124) with problematic short-video use (scale score ≥ 39) were initially recruited. Based on objective daily viewing time, they were classified into low (LV) (2.16 ± 0.54 h/day), moderate (MV) (4.24 ± 0.67 h/day), and high (HV) (6.17 ± 0.87 h/day) usage groups. Based on exercise habits, participants were further divided into high (HE) (≥ 3 sessions/week, ≥ 1 h/session) and low (LE) (≤ 1 session/week) exercise groups. Fifty-eight participants completed the 2 (exercise) × 3 (video usage) design. Inhibitory control was assessed using a Go/Nogo task, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measured oxygenated hemoglobin changes across 20 prefrontal channels. Hierarchical regressions (continuous video duration) were the primary analysis; ANOVAs were used for descriptive visualization.

The HV group showed longer reaction times (RT) than the LV group, with no accuracy differences. The HE group exhibited shorter RT and higher self-control and decisiveness scores than the LE group. A marginally significant interaction on decisiveness indicated that within MV and HV groups, HE individuals scored higher than LE individuals. Neurally, the HV group showed greater activation in right dorsolateral and right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex than MV and LV groups. The LE group exhibited broader hyperactivation in left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and frontopolar area compared to the HE group.

Excessive short-video use is associated with poorer behavioral self-control and reduced prefrontal efficiency, with hyperactivation in right hemisphere regions. Regular exercise is related to better self-control performance and enhanced prefrontal efficiency, particularly in MV and HV video users. These findings provide neurocognitive evidence linking exercise to reduced adverse effects of excessive digital media use.