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Gong C, Yang Y. Google effects on memory: a meta-analytical review of the media effects of intensive Internet search behavior. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1332030. [PMID: 38304178 PMCID: PMC10830778 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1332030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
People are increasingly using the web for fact-checking and other forms of information seeking. The "Google effects" refers to the idea that individuals rely on the Internet as a source of knowledge rather than remembering it for themselves. However, few literature review have yet comprehensively examined the media effects of this intensive Internet search behavior. In this study, by carrying out meta-analysis, we found that google effects is closely associated with cognitive load, behavioral phenotype and cognitive self-esteem. And this phenomenon is also more likely to happen while using a mobile phone to browse the Internet rather than a computer. People with a larger knowledge base are less susceptible to the consequences of Internet use than those with a smaller knowledge base. The media effect was stronger for persons who had used the Internet before than for those who had not. And meta-analyses show that participants in North America (parameter = -1.0365, 95%CI = [-1.8758, -0.1972], p < 0.05) are more susceptible to frequent Internet search behavior relative to other regions. Overall, google effects on memory challenges the way individuals seek and read information, and it may lead to changes in cognitive and memory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Gong
- School of Journalism, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Yang
- College of Media and Arts, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- College of Communication, Shanghai Lida University, Shanghai, China
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2
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Yasin S, Altunisik E, Tak AZA. Digital Danger in Our Pockets: Effect of Smartphone Overuse on Mental Fatigue and Cognitive Flexibility. J Nerv Ment Dis 2023; Publish Ahead of Print:00005053-990000000-00104. [PMID: 37276513 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Smartphones have become essential to life in Western society. This situation reached its peak, especially during the pandemic period. The possibility that smartphone use has negative impact on brain activity has attracted increasing interest among researchers. Medical faculty students were contacted via e-mail and invited to participate in the study. Participants completed the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), the Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS), and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI). The total SAS scores of participants with mental fatigue were significantly higher than those of participants without mental fatigue (p < 0.001). In the smartphone addiction tendency group, the total MFS scores were significantly higher, and the total CFI scores were significantly lower than the scores of the control group (p < 0.001 for both). In the logistic regression analysis, the total SAS score was associated with the development of mental fatigue (B coefficient, 0.031, p < 0.001). This study identified potential relationships between smartphone addiction, mental fatigue, and cognitive flexibility. We suggest that smartphone overuse may be an independent risk factor for the development of mental fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedat Yasin
- Department of Neurology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey
| | - Erman Altunisik
- Department of Neurology, Adiyaman University Faculty of Medicine, Adiyaman, Turkey
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3
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Woods SP, Thompson JL, Benge JF. Computer use: a protective factor for cognition in aging and HIV disease? Aging Clin Exp Res 2023:10.1007/s40520-023-02449-0. [PMID: 37278938 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-023-02449-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modifiable lifestyle factors such as engagement with technology may be beneficial to cognition in older adults, but we know little about these relationships in older persons with chronic medical conditions. AIMS The current study examined the association between computer use frequency and cognition in younger and older adults with and without HIV disease. METHODS Participants included 110 older persons with HIV (pwHIV; age ≥ 50 years), 84 younger pwHIV (age ≤ 40 years), 76 older HIV-, and 66 younger HIV- adults who completed a comprehensive medical, psychiatric, and cognitive research assessment. Demographically adjusted scores were derived from a well-validated clinical battery of performance-based neuropsychological tests. Participants also completed self-reported measures of cognitive symptoms in daily life and the Brief Computer Use and Anxiety Questionnaire (BCUAQ). RESULTS Older age was associated with less frequent computer use among persons with and without HIV disease. More frequent computer use was strongly and independently related to better cognitive performance, particularly in higher order domains (e.g., episodic memory and executive functions) and among the older seronegative adults. A small, univariable correlation between more frequent computer use and fewer cognitive symptoms in daily life was observed in the full sample, but that relationship was better explained by computer-related anxiety and HIV/age study group. DISCUSSION These findings add to the existing literature that suggests regular engagement with digital technologies may have a beneficial impact on cognitive functioning, consistent with the technological reserve hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Paul Woods
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 3595 Cullen Blvd., 126 Heyne Bldg., Ste. 239d, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Jennifer L Thompson
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 3595 Cullen Blvd., 126 Heyne Bldg., Ste. 239d, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Jared F Benge
- Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Trinity St Bldg B, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
- Mulva Clinic for the Neurosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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4
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Ricci RC, Paulo ASCD, Freitas AKPBD, Ribeiro IC, Pires LSA, Facina MEL, Cabral MB, Parduci NV, Spegiorin RC, Bogado SSG, Chociay Junior S, Carachesti TN, Larroque MM. Impacts of technology on children’s health: a systematic review. REVISTA PAULISTA DE PEDIATRIA 2023; 41:e2020504. [PMID: 35830157 PMCID: PMC9273128 DOI: 10.1590/1984-0462/2023/41/2020504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To identify the consequences of technology overuse in childhood. Data source: A systematic review was carried out in the electronic databases PubMed (National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health) and BVS (Virtual Health Library), considering articles published from 2015 to 2020, in English, Portuguese and Spanish using the terms “Internet”, “Child” and “Growth and Development”. Data synthesis: 554 articles were found and 8 were included in the analysis. The studies’ methodological quality was assessed by the Strobe and Consort criteria, being scored from 17 to 22 points. The articles showed positive and negative factors associated with the use of technology in childhood, although most texts emphasize the harmful aspects. Excessive use of internet, games and exposure to television are associated with intellectual deficits and mental health issues, but can also enable psychosocial development. Conclusions: Preventing the use of the internet is a utopic measure ever since society makes use of technologies. The internet is associated with benefits as well as with harms. It is important to optimize the use of internet and reduce risks with the participation of parents and caregivers as moderators, and training of health professionals to better guide them.
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Babicz MA, Rahman S, Kordovski VM, Tierney SM, Woods SP. Age and neurocognition are associated with credibility evaluations of health websites. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2022:1-10. [PMID: 35872658 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2022.2096453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The internet has become a common means by which many older adults seek out health information. The prevalence of misinformation on the internet makes the search for accurate online health information a more complex and evaluative process. This study examined the role of age and neurocognition in credibility evaluations of credible and non-credible health websites. Forty-one older adults and fifty younger adults completed a structured credibility rating task in which they evaluated a series of webpages displaying health information about migraine treatments. Participants also completed measures of neurocognition, internet use, and health literacy. Results suggested that older adults rated non-credible health websites as more credible than younger adults, but the age groups did not differ in their ratings of credible sites. Within the full sample, neurocognition was associated with credibility ratings for non-credible health websites, whereas health literacy was related to the ratings of credible sites. Findings indicate that older adults may be more likely to trust non-credible health websites than younger adults, which may be related to differences in higher-order neurocognitive functions. Future work might examine whether cognitive-based supports for credibility training in older adults can be used to improve the accuracy with which they evaluate online health information.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samina Rahman
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Victoria M Kordovski
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Savanna M Tierney
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mental Health Care Line, Houston, TX, USA
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6
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Tierney SM, Kordovski VM, Rahman S, Medina LD, Damian RI, Collins RL, Woods SP. Neuropsychological aspects of internet-based transit navigation skills in older adults. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2022; 29:87-103. [PMID: 33225801 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2020.1852164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Older adults commonly experience difficulties efficiently searching the Internet, which can adversely affect daily functioning. This study specifically examined the neuropsychological aspects of online transit planning in 50 younger (M = 22 years) and 40 older (M = 64 years) community-dwelling adults. All participants completed a neuropsychological battery, questionnaires, and measures of Internet use and skills. Participants used a live transit planning website to complete three inter-related tasks (e.g., map a route from an airport to a specific hotel at a particular time). On a fourth Internet transit task, participants were randomized into either a support condition in which they received brief goal management training or into a control condition. Results showed that older adults were both slower and less accurate than their younger counterparts in completing the first three Internet transit tasks. Within the older adults, Internet transit accuracy showed a medium association with verbal memory, executive functions, and auditory attention, but not visuomotor speed, which was the only domain associated with Internet transit task speed in both groups. The goal management training was beneficial for plan development in younger, but not older adults. The planning supports did not impact actual Internet transit task performance in either group. Findings indicate that older adults experience difficulties quickly and accurately using a transit website to plan transportation routes, which is associated with poorer higher-order neurocognitive functions (e.g., memory). Future work might examine the benefits of established memory strategies (e.g., spaced retrieval practice) for online transit planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savanna M Tierney
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston Houston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Samina Rahman
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston Houston, TX, USA
| | - Luis D Medina
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rodica I Damian
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robert L Collins
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston Houston, TX, USA
- Medical Neuropsychology of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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7
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Kordovski VM, Tierney SM, Rahman S, Medina LD, Babicz MA, Yoshida H, Holcomb EM, Cushman C, Woods SP. Older age and online health information search behaviors: The mediating influence of executive functions. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2021; 43:689-703. [PMID: 34730068 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2021.1990866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Searching the internet for health-related information is a complex and dynamic goal-oriented process that ostensibly places demands on executive functions, which are higher-order cognitive abilities that can deteriorate with older age. This study examined the effects of older age on electronic health (eHealth) search behavior and the potential mediating influence of executive functions. METHOD Fifty younger adults (≤ 35 years) and 41 older adults (≥50 years) completed naturalistic eHealth search tasks involving fact-finding (Fact Search) and symptom determination (Symptom Search), a neurocognitive battery, and a series of self-report questionnaires. RESULTS Multiple regression models controlling for potentially confounding psychiatric symptoms, health conditions, literacy, and demographic variables revealed that older adults were slower and less accurate than younger adults on the eHealth Fact Search task, but not on the eHealth Symptom Search task. Executive functions mediated the relationship between age and Fact and Symptom Search accuracy, independent of basic processing speed and attention. Parallel mediation models showed that episodic memory was not an independent mediator of age and search accuracy for either eHealth task once speed/attention and executive functions were included. CONCLUSIONS Older adults can experience difficulty searching the internet for some health-related information, which is at least partly attributable to executive dysfunction. Future studies are needed to determine the benefits of training in the organizational and strategic aspects of internet search for older adults and whether these findings are applicable to clinical populations with executive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Samina Rahman
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Luis D Medina
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Hanako Yoshida
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Clint Cushman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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Exploring the Impact of Internet Use on Memory and Attention Processes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17249481. [PMID: 33348890 PMCID: PMC7766706 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The rapid uptake of the internet has provided a new platform for people to engage with almost all aspects of life. As such, it is currently crucial to investigate the relationship between the internet and cognition across contexts and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms driving this. We describe the current understanding of this relationship across the literature and outline the state of knowledge surrounding the potential neurobiological drivers. Through focusing on two key areas of the nascent but growing literature, first the individual- and population-level implications for attention processes and second the neurobiological drivers underpinning internet usage and memory, we describe the implications of the internet for cognition, assess the potential mechanisms linking brain structure to cognition, and elucidate how these influence behaviour. Finally, we identify areas that now require investigation, including (i) the importance of the variation in individual levels of internet usage, (ii) potential individual behavioural implications and emerging population-level effects, and the (iii) interplay between age and the internet–brain relationships across the stages of development.
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9
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Kordovski VM, Babicz MA, Ulrich N, Woods SP. Neurocognitive Correlates of Internet Search Skills for eHealth Fact and Symptom Information in a Young Adult Sample. Percept Mot Skills 2020; 127:960-979. [DOI: 10.1177/0031512520938178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
As the Covid 19 crisis has revealed, the internet is a first-line tool for learning critical health-related information. However, internet searches are a complex and dynamic process that can be fraught with subtleties and potential error. The mechanics of searching for and using electronic health (eHealth) information is ostensibly cognitively demanding; yet we know little about the role of neurocognitive abilities in this regard. Fifty-six young adults completed two naturalistic eHealth search tasks: fact-finding (eHealth Fact) and symptom-diagnosis (eHealth Search). Participants also completed neurocognitive tests of attention, psychomotor speed, learning/memory, and executive functions. Shorter eHealth symptom-diagnosis search time was related to better executive functions, while better eHealth symptom-diagnosis search accuracy was related to better episodic and prospective memory. In contrast, neither eHealth Fact search time nor its accuracy were related to any of the neurocognitive measures. Our findings suggest a differential relationship between neurocognitive abilities and eHealth search behaviors among young adults such that higher-order abilities may be implicated in eHealth searches requiring greater synthesis of information. Future work should examine the cognitive architecture of eHealth search in persons with neurocognitive disorders, as well as that of other aspects of eHealth search behaviors (e.g., search term generation, website reliability, and decision-making).
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10
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Walsh JJ, Barnes JD, Tremblay MS, Chaput JP. Associations between duration and type of electronic screen use and cognition in US children. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2020.106312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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11
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Caccia M, Giorgetti M, Toraldo A, Molteni M, Sarti D, Vernice M, Lorusso ML. ORCA.IT: A New Web-Based Tool for Assessing Online Reading, Search and Comprehension Abilities in Students Reveals Effects of Gender, School Type and Reading Ability. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2433. [PMID: 31736831 PMCID: PMC6839427 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ORCA.IT, a new online test of online research and comprehension was developed for the Italian population. A group of 183 students attending various types of upper secondary schools in Northern Italy were tested with the new tool and underwent further cognitive and neuropsychological assessment. The different school types involved in the study are representative of the school population in the Italian system, but can also be easily compared with the educational systems of other countries. The new test turned out to have good psychometric properties after accurate item construction and final selection. In particular, Version 1 showed better characteristics than Version 2. Subsequently, comparison with one-way ANOVAs were performed to test whether differences exist between different school types, between groups with and without reading difficulties, and between males and females. Such differences are sometimes reported in the literature, but many remain controversial. Further, Pearson's bivariate correlations were calculated to analyze associations between scores on the ORCA.IT and cognitive/neuropsychological variables. Finally, a stepwise regression analysis was performed on aggregated scores to identify the predictors of performance on each of the two versions. The test, especially in the most complete version (Version 1), appears to accurately and reliably capture students' web searching abilities and online reading comprehension. The tool could highlight differences in online search and comprehension ability between students with and without reading difficulties, not penalizing overall performance but allowing very specific weaknesses to be pointed out. Further, it seems to be able to capture differences due to both educational pathways (different school types) and social attitudes (differences between males and females). Most interestingly, it shows to be clearly resting on specific cognitive and neuropsychological abilities, including language, memory, and attentional skills, which explain a large portion of the total variance. Offline text reading comprehension is a crucial predictor of online reading performance, while decoding ability is not. Prior knowledge also influences the results, as expected. The new tool turns out to be rather independent of previous Internet experience and to measure more cognitively grounded processes related to information gathering, processing, and communicating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Caccia
- Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | | | - Alessio Toraldo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Molteni
- Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Daniela Sarti
- Carlo Besta Neurological Institute (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Mirta Vernice
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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12
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Firth J, Torous J, Stubbs B, Firth JA, Steiner GZ, Smith L, Alvarez-Jimenez M, Gleeson J, Vancampfort D, Armitage CJ, Sarris J. The "online brain": how the Internet may be changing our cognition. World Psychiatry 2019; 18:119-129. [PMID: 31059635 PMCID: PMC6502424 DOI: 10.1002/wps.20617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of the Internet across multiple aspects of modern society is clear. However, the influence that it may have on our brain structure and functioning remains a central topic of investigation. Here we draw on recent psychological, psychiatric and neuroimaging findings to examine several key hypotheses on how the Internet may be changing our cognition. Specifically, we explore how unique features of the online world may be influencing: a) attentional capacities, as the constantly evolving stream of online information encourages our divided attention across multiple media sources, at the expense of sustained concentration; b) memory processes, as this vast and ubiquitous source of online information begins to shift the way we retrieve, store, and even value knowledge; and c) social cognition, as the ability for online social settings to resemble and evoke real-world social processes creates a new interplay between the Internet and our social lives, including our self-concepts and self-esteem. Overall, the available evidence indicates that the Internet can produce both acute and sustained alterations in each of these areas of cognition, which may be reflected in changes in the brain. However, an emerging priority for future research is to determine the effects of extensive online media usage on cognitive development in youth, and examine how this may differ from cognitive outcomes and brain impact of uses of Internet in the elderly. We conclude by proposing how Internet research could be integrated into broader research settings to study how this unprecedented new facet of society can affect our cognition and the brain across the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Firth
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - John Torous
- Division of Digital Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brendon Stubbs
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Physiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Josh A Firth
- Department of Zoology, Edward Grey Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Merton College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Genevieve Z Steiner
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Lee Smith
- Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mario Alvarez-Jimenez
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - John Gleeson
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Davy Vancampfort
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- University Psychiatric Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christopher J Armitage
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Jerome Sarris
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia
- Professorial Unit, The Melbourne Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Australia
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Danovitch JH. Growing up with Google: How children's understanding and use of internet‐based devices relates to cognitive development. HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/hbe2.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Judith H. Danovitch
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesUniversity of Louisville Louisville Kentucky
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14
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Woods SP, Kordovski VM, Tierney SM, Babicz MA. The neuropsychological aspects of performance-based Internet navigation skills: A brief review of an emerging literature. Clin Neuropsychol 2019; 33:305-326. [PMID: 30678535 PMCID: PMC6428423 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2018.1503332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Over the last 20 years, the Internet has become a fundamental means by which many people with neurocognitive disorders manage their activities of daily living (e.g. shopping) and engage in health behaviors (e.g. appointment scheduling). The aim of this review is to summarize the emerging literature on the neuropsychology of performance-based tasks of Internet navigation skills (INS) as measures of everyday functioning. METHOD We performed a structured, qualitative review of the extant literature on INS using PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS Seventeen peer-reviewed studies met inclusion criteria and their results suggest that performance-based tests of INS: (1) discriminate healthy adults from some neuropsychological populations [e.g. human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), multiple sclerosis (MS), traumatic brain injury (TBI)]; (2) are associated with performance-based tests of everyday functioning capacity, domain-specific declines in manifest everyday functioning, and self-reported Internet behavior, but not global manifest functional status; (3) correlate with standard clinical neuropsychological tests, particularly executive functions and episodic memory; (4) may relate to demographic factors, most notably age; and (5) have largely unknown psychometric properties (e.g. reliability). CONCLUSION This review provided early support for the construct validity of performance-based tasks of INS as modern measures of everyday functioning in neuropsychological populations. Future work is needed to refine these tasks, establish their psychometrics, and evaluate their construct validity in diverse populations, as well as to develop effective remediation and compensatory strategies to improve Internet functionality among persons with neurocognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Paul Woods
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, TX,
USA; 126 Heyne Building, Suite 239D, Houston, TX 77004-5022,
713-743-6415,
| | - Victoria M. Kordovski
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, TX,
USA; 126 Heyne Building, Suite 204, Houston, TX 77004-5022,
| | - Savanna M. Tierney
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, TX,
USA; 126 Heyne Building, Suite 204, Houston, TX 77004-5022,
| | - Michelle A. Babicz
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, TX,
USA; 126 Heyne Building, Suite 204, Houston, TX 77004-5022,
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15
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Takeuchi H, Taki Y, Asano K, Asano M, Sassa Y, Yokota S, Kotozaki Y, Nouchi R, Kawashima R. Impact of frequency of internet use on development of brain structures and verbal intelligence: Longitudinal analyses. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:4471-4479. [PMID: 29956399 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive internet use is shown to be cross sectionally associated with lower cognitive functioning and reduced volume of several brain areas. However, the effects of daily internet use on the development of verbal intelligence and brain structures have not been investigated. Here, we cross sectionally examined the effects of the frequency of internet use on regional gray/white matter volume (rGMV/rWMV) and verbal intelligence as well as their longitudinal changes after 3.0 ± 0.3 (standard deviation) years in a large sample of children recruited from the general population (mean age, 11.2 ± 3.1 years; range, 5.7-18.4 years). Although there were no significant associations in cross sectional analyses, a higher frequency of internet use was found to be associated with decrease of verbal intelligence and smaller increase in rGMV and rWMV of widespread brain areas after a few years in longitudinal analyses. These areas involve areas related to language processing, attention and executive functions, emotion, and reward. In conclusion, frequent internet use is directly or indirectly associated with decrease of verbal intelligence and development to smaller gray matter volume at later stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Takeuchi
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taki
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Division of Medical Neuroimaging Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Nuclear Medicine & Radiology, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kohei Asano
- Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Michiko Asano
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Sassa
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Susumu Yokota
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuka Kotozaki
- Division of Clinical research, Medical-Industry Translational Research Center, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Rui Nouchi
- Human and Social Response Research Division, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Smart Ageing International Research Centre, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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16
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Liu X, Lin X, Zheng M, Hu Y, Wang Y, Wang L, Du X, Dong G. Internet Search Alters Intra- and Inter-regional Synchronization in the Temporal Gyrus. Front Psychol 2018; 9:260. [PMID: 29559939 PMCID: PMC5845706 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Internet search changed the way we store and recall information and possibly altered our brain functions. Previous studies suggested that Internet search facilitates the information-acquisition process. However, this process may cause individuals to lose the ability to store and recollect specific contents. Despite the numerous behavioral studies conducted in this field, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying Internet searches. The present study explores potential brain activity changes induced by Internet search. The whole paradigm includes three phases, namely, pre-resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) scan, 6-day Internet search training, and post rs-fMRI scan. We detected the functional integrations induced by Internet search training by comparing post- with pre-scan. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC) were used to detect intra- and interregional synchronized activity in 42 university students. Compared with pre-scan, post-scan showed decreased ReHo in the temporal gyrus, the middle frontal gyrus, and the postcentral gyrus. Further seed-based FC analysis showed that the temporal gyrus exhibited decreased FC in the parahippocampal cortex and the temporal gyrus after training. Based on the features of current task and functions exhibited by these brain regions, results indicate that short-term Internet search training changed the brain regional activities involved in memory retrieval. In general, this study provides evidence that supports the idea that Internet search can affect our brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Liu
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Xiao Lin
- Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Zheng
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yanbo Hu
- Department of Psychology, London Metropolitan University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yifan Wang
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Lingxiao Wang
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Xiaoxia Du
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangheng Dong
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.,Institute of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
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17
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Dong G, Li H, Potenza MN. Short-Term Internet-Search Training Is Associated with Increased Fractional Anisotropy in the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus in the Parietal Lobe. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:372. [PMID: 28706473 PMCID: PMC5489597 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Internet search engine has become an indispensable tool for many people, yet the ways in which Internet searching may alter brain structure and function is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the influence of short-term Internet-search “training” on white matter microstructure using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Fifty-nine valid subjects (Experimental group, 43; Control group, 16) completed the whole procedure: pre- DTI scan, 6-day's training and post- DTI scan. Using track-based spatial statistics, we found increased fractional anisotropy in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus at post-test as compared to pre-test in experimental group. Within the identified region of the right superior longitudinal fasciculus, decreased radial diffusivity (RD), and unchanged axial diffusivity (AD) were observed. These results suggest that short-term Internet-search training may increase white-matter integrity in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus. A possible mechanism for the observed FA change may involve increased myelination after training, although this possibility warrants additional investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangheng Dong
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal UniversityJinhua, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal UniversityJinhua, China
| | - Marc N Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neurobiology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT, United States.,Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT, United States.,CASAColumbia, Yale School of Medicine, Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT, United States
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18
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Short-term Internet search using makes people rely on search engines when facing unknown issues. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176325. [PMID: 28441408 PMCID: PMC5404767 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Internet search engines, which have powerful search/sort functions and ease of use features, have become an indispensable tool for many individuals. The current study is to test whether the short-term Internet search training can make people more dependent on it. Thirty-one subjects out of forty subjects completed the search training study which included a pre-test, a six-day’s training of Internet search, and a post-test. During the pre- and post- tests, subjects were asked to search online the answers to 40 unusual questions, remember the answers and recall them in the scanner. Un-learned questions were randomly presented at the recalling stage in order to elicited search impulse. Comparing to the pre-test, subjects in the post-test reported higher impulse to use search engines to answer un-learned questions. Consistently, subjects showed higher brain activations in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex in the post-test than in the pre-test. In addition, there were significant positive correlations self-reported search impulse and brain responses in the frontal areas. The results suggest that a simple six-day’s Internet search training can make people dependent on the search tools when facing unknown issues. People are easily dependent on the Internet search engines.
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19
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Wang Y, Wu L, Zhou H, Xu J, Dong G. Development and Validation of a Self-reported Questionnaire for Measuring Internet Search Dependence. Front Public Health 2016; 4:274. [PMID: 28066753 PMCID: PMC5167696 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Internet search has become the most common way that people deal with issues and problems in everyday life. The wide use of Internet search has largely changed the way people search for and store information. There is a growing interest in the impact of Internet search on users' affect, cognition, and behavior. Thus, it is essential to develop a tool to measure the changes in psychological characteristics as a result of long-term use of Internet search. The aim of this study is to develop a Questionnaire on Internet Search Dependence (QISD) and test its reliability and validity. We first proposed a preliminary structure and items of the QISD based on literature review, supplemental investigations, and interviews. And then, we assessed the psychometric properties and explored the factor structure of the initial version via exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The EFA results indicated that four dimensions of the QISD were very reliable, i.e., habitual use of Internet search, withdrawal reaction, Internet search trust, and external storage under Internet search. Finally, we tested the factor solution obtained from EFA through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results of CFA confirmed that the four dimensions model fits the data well. In all, this study suggests that the 12-item QISD is of high reliability and validity and can serve as a preliminary tool to measure the features of Internet search dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Wang
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University , Jinhua , China
| | - Lingdan Wu
- Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz , Konstanz , Germany
| | - Hongli Zhou
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University , Jinhua , China
| | - Jiaojing Xu
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University , Jinhua , China
| | - Guangheng Dong
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China; Institute of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
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20
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Short-term Internet-search practicing modulates brain activity during recollection. Neuroscience 2016; 335:82-90. [PMID: 27555549 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Internet-searching behaviors may change ways in which we find, store and consider information. In this study, we tested the effect of short-term Internet-search practicing on recollection processes. Fifty-nine human subjects with valid data (Experimental group, 43; Control group, 16) completed procedures involving a pre-test, 6days of practicing, and a post-test. Behavioral and imaging results were obtained and within- and between-group comparisons were made at pre-test and post-test times. With respect to behavioral performance, six days of practicing was associated with improved behavioral performance during Internet searching: subjects in the experimental group showed shorter response times (RTs) and similar accuracy rates during recollection at post-test as compared to pre-test. During imaging and as compared to pre-test data, subjects in the experimental group showed during post-test recall relatively decreased brain activations bilaterally in the middle frontal and temporal gyri. Such findings were not observed in the control group. The findings suggest that six days of practicing Internet searching may improve the efficiency of Internet searching without influencing the accuracy of recollection, with neuroimaging results implicating cortical regions involved in long-term memory and executive processing.
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