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Neural correlates of cognitive fatigue in problematic smartphone users: A task-based fMRI study
Abdulqawi Alarefi1, Shanwen Yao1, Chen Yan1
1Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Brain Research Bulletin
|July 8, 2026
Summary
Problematic smartphone use (PSU) in young adults is linked to cognitive fatigue. Brain imaging reveals increased activity and connectivity in specific brain regions, suggesting greater effort is needed to maintain cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is prevalent, especially among young adults.
- PSU is associated with negative cognitive and emotional outcomes.
- Neurobiological mechanisms of cognitive impairments in PSU are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cognitive fatigue (CF) and brain activity in individuals with PSU.
- To identify neurobiological markers associated with CF in PSU.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used in 81 healthy adults.
- Participants performed cognitively demanding tasks to induce CF.
- Brain activation, functional connectivity, and behavioral performance were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The PSU group showed increased activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), correlated with fatigue.
- Increased functional connectivity was observed between vmPFC and the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) in the PSU group.
- Activation in nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and middle cingulate cortex (MCC) correlated with performance, indicating compensatory mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Specific neural markers for cognitive fatigue in PSU were identified.
- Increased brain activity and connectivity in PSU individuals suggest a higher cognitive resource demand.
- Targeted interventions are needed to reduce cognitive fatigue and mitigate neurocognitive impacts of PSU.
