Structural and functional correlates of smartphone addiction

Abstract

Popularity and availability of smartphones have dramatically increased in the past years. This trend is accompanied by increased concerns regarding potentially adverse effects of excessive smartphone use, particularly with respect to physical and mental health. Recently, the term “smartphone addiction” (SPA) has been introduced to describe smartphone-related addictive behavior and associated physical and psychosocial impairment. Here, we used structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 T to investigate gray matter volume (GMV) and intrinsic neural activity in individuals with SPA (n = 22) compared to a control group (n = 26). SPA was assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI), GMV was investigated by means of voxel-based morphometry, and intrinsic neural activity was measured by the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF). Compared to controls, individuals with SPA showed lower GMV in left anterior insula, inferior temporal and parahippocampal cortex (p < 0.001, uncorrected for height, followed by correction for spatial extent). Lower intrinsic activity in SPA was found in the right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). A significant negative association was found between SPAI and both ACC volume and activity. In addition, a significant negative association between SPAI scores and left orbitofrontal GMV was found. This study provides first evidence for distinct structural and functional correlates of behavioral addiction in individuals meeting psychometric criteria for SPA. Given their widespread use and increasing popularity, the present study questions the harmlessness of smartphones, at least in individuals that may be at increased risk for developing smartphone-related addictive behaviors.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Compared with controls, individuals meeting psychometric criteria for smartphone addiction (SPA) showed lower GMV in the left anterior insula, inferior temporal and parahippocampal cortex, and lower intrinsic activity (ALFF) in the right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). SPAI scores were negatively associated with ACC volume and activity, and with left orbitofrontal GMV.

Outcomes measured

• Gray matter volume (GMV) differences (voxel-based morphometry)
• Intrinsic neural activity (ALFF) differences
• Associations between Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI) scores and brain volume/activity

Limitations

• Exposure is smartphone addiction/usage behavior; no EMF/RF exposure metrics (frequency, SAR, field strength) are reported
• Small sample size (SPA n=22; controls n=26)
• Some reported results use p<0.001 uncorrected for height with correction for spatial extent (as described in abstract)
• Population characteristics (age/sex, recruitment) not provided in abstract

{
    "study_type": "case_control",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": 48,
    "outcomes": [
        "Gray matter volume (GMV) differences (voxel-based morphometry)",
        "Intrinsic neural activity (ALFF) differences",
        "Associations between Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI) scores and brain volume/activity"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Compared with controls, individuals meeting psychometric criteria for smartphone addiction (SPA) showed lower GMV in the left anterior insula, inferior temporal and parahippocampal cortex, and lower intrinsic activity (ALFF) in the right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). SPAI scores were negatively associated with ACC volume and activity, and with left orbitofrontal GMV.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure is smartphone addiction/usage behavior; no EMF/RF exposure metrics (frequency, SAR, field strength) are reported",
        "Small sample size (SPA n=22; controls n=26)",
        "Some reported results use p<0.001 uncorrected for height with correction for spatial extent (as described in abstract)",
        "Population characteristics (age/sex, recruitment) not provided in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "smartphone addiction",
        "SPAI",
        "MRI",
        "3 T",
        "gray matter volume",
        "voxel-based morphometry",
        "ALFF",
        "insula",
        "anterior cingulate cortex",
        "orbitofrontal cortex"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

Comments

Log in to comment.

No comments yet.