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Problematic internet use (PIU) is linked to psychological distress and cognitive alterations, yet its early pre-clinical effects remain unclear. This study explored the psychological, behavioral, and neurophysiological correlates of PIU in a healthy, non-clinical population, focusing on response inhibition and execution within internet use patterns. A total of 133 participants (74 females, aged 18–35) were assessed using PIUQ-9 and DPIU questionnaires, along with measures of anxiety, depression, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. An auditory equiprobable Go/NoGo task was used and event-related potentials (ERPs; N1/N2/P2/P3) were analyzed in relation to PIU severity and different online activities engagement. Additionally, behavioral, psychological, and neurophysiological profiles of individuals with high and low PIU levels were compared. PIU severity correlated with anxiety, depression, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms, while Go/NoGo task accuracy was unaffected. N1 amplitudes negatively correlated with PIU severity and gaming engagement, suggesting altered early sensory processing. NoGo-P3 latency positively correlated with information search engagement, indicating delayed inhibitory processing in frequent online searchers. High and low PIU groups differed in psychological measures but not in ERP or behavioral measures. Our findings confirm psychological distress in PIU alongside subtle neurophysiological alterations, suggesting that ERP measures in the equiprobable Go/NoGo task may not be highly sensitive PIU risk biomarkers in non-clinical populations.

Background: Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is associated with emotional and cognitive dysregulation, yet its neural correlates, particularly in non-clinical populations, remain poorly understood. This study investigated association of the resting-state alpha asymmetry and desynchronization with psychological correlates of internet use within healthy regular internet users. Methods: A total of 129 participants (49 males, aged 18–35) were assessed using the Nine-Item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ 9), alongside measures of anxiety, depression, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Resting-state EEG was recorded across Eyes Open (EO) and Eyes Closed (EC) conditions, with frontal and parietal alpha asymmetry and desynchronization indices analyzed in relation to internet use severity (Spearman rank correlations with non-parametric bootstrapping, 5000 replicates; FDR-corrected). For further analysis, participants with the lowest (n = 36) and highest (n = 33) PIUQ-9 scores were classified as low and high PIU groups, respectively, and their neurophysiological profiles were compared (Mann–Whitney U tests). Results: Higher internet use severity was associated with greater right parietal alpha power during EO condition, indicating greater left hemisphere parietal activity among individuals with higher internet engagement. Individuals with higher internet use severity also exhibited reduced absolute frontal and parietal alpha power, while alpha desynchronization was not associated with PIU severity or psychological symptoms. Conclusions: These findings suggest that posterior asymmetry patterns may serve as a neurophysiological correlate of PIU in non-clinical populations, warranting further investigation in future research.

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire- 7 (GAD-7) are short screening instruments used for detection of depression and anxiety symptoms in various settings, including general and mental health care as well as the general population. The aim of this study is to evaluate psychometric properties and factorial structure of the PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 in a sample of Lithuanian university students. 1368 students (mean age 22.5±4.8) completed the PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 questionnaires online; after the completion of the survey, students were asked to provide phone contact for an additional interview. Eligible students were approached later by trained interviewers and completed The Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised for assessment of depressive and anxiety disorders. Results showed that the PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 are reliable screening tools for depression and anxiety (Cronbach alpha 0.86 and 0.91, respectively). The one-factor structure of the PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 was confirmed by the Confirmatory Factor Analysis. A cut-off of ≥10 for the PHQ-9 resulted in 71% sensitivity and 66% specificity recognizing students with increased risk for mood or anxiety disorder. For the GAD-7, a cut-off ≥9 resulted in 73% sensitivity and 70% specificity recognizing students at risk. The PHQ-9 was sensitive but not specific in recognizing students with depressive disorders. The sensitivity and specificity of the GAD-7 in differentiating students with generalized anxiety disorders were low. The PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 have sufficient formal psychometric properties, but their clinical utility as diagnostic tools for recognition of depressive and anxiety disorders in students is limited. Due to low specificity and high false positive rates, both scales are recommended only as an initial screening tool for recognition of subjects with increased risk of mental disorders, however positive cases should be later assessed using more comprehensive instruments.

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is increasingly recognized as a concern among internet users, prompting investigations into the factors that may predispose individuals to PIU. Interoceptive awareness, one of cognitive-perceptual factors, refers to the ability to perceive internal bodily sensations and has been shown to play a significant role in the onset and maintenance of drug addiction. However, its relationship with PIU remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the dimensions of interoceptive awareness within the context of PIU and to explore the role of personality traits in their relationships in a non-clinical sample of regular internet users. Involving 161 participants (71 males), the PIUQ-9 (Nine-Item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire), DPIU (Dimensions of Problematic Internet Use), Neo-Pi-R NEO (Personality Inventory-Revised) and MAIA (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness) questionnaires were employed. Spearman correlations and network analysis were conducted to assess relationships and interconnections among the variables. Neuroticism emerged as a central factor, strongly linked to both PIU and interoceptive awareness. Network analysis highlighted specific negative connections between the interoceptive states of Trusting and Not-Distracting and PIU. These preliminary findings suggest that certain interoceptive dimensions and personality traits, particularly neuroticism, are significantly associated with PIU. This study contributes to the field by highlighting interoceptive dimensions as relevant factors in understanding PIU and emphasizes the scarcity of research in this area, encouraging further investigation to address this gap.

   Even though gaming and gambling bear similar problematic behavioral aspects, there are no recognizable neurophysiological biomarkers or features characterizing and/or distinguishing these conditions. A systematic review of the literature with a focus on methods was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (Web of Science Core Collection), EBSCOhost Research Databases (APA PsycINFO; APA PsycArticles; OpenDissertations; ERIC) databases. Following search terms were used to search the databases: ERP, \"event related potential*\", EP, \"evoked potential*\", SS, \"steady state\", EEG, electroencephal*; gam*. Data about the participants (total number, gender, age), main aim of the study and information about the experimental setup (experimental task description, stimuli used, ERPs measured (latency windows and placement of the electrodes), process evaluated) was extracted. A total of 24 studies were revised (problematic gaming – 16, pathological gambling – 8). The experimental protocols could be grouped into 3 main target domains (Cue-reactivity, General Information processing and Reward Processes & Risk Assessment). Sample-related limitations (small sample sizes, gender differences, differences between the groups regarding potential confounding variables) and heterogeneity regarding the experimental tasks, implementation and interpretation reviewed. Gambling-related research is highly focused on the investigation of the reward-related processes, whereas gaming-related research is mostly focused on the altered aspects of more general information processing. A vast heterogeneity regarding the ERP experimental paradigms being used and lack of clear guidelines and standardized procedures prevents identification of measures capable to reliably discriminate or characterize the population susceptible to addictive behavior or being able to diagnose and monitor these disorders.

Rationale: The resting-state paradigm is frequently applied in electroencephalography (EEG) research; however, it is associated with the inability to control participants’ thoughts. To quantify subjects’ subjective experiences at rest, the Amsterdam Resting-State Questionnaire (ARSQ) was introduced covering ten dimensions of mind wandering. We aimed to estimate associations between subjective experiences and resting-state microstates of EEG. Methods: 5 min resting-state EEG data of 197 subjects was used to evaluate temporal properties of seven microstate classes. Bayesian correlation approach was implemented to assess associations between ARSQ domains assessed after resting and parameters of microstates. Results: Several associations between Comfort, Self and Somatic Awareness domains and temporal properties of neuroelectric microstates were revealed. The positive correlation between Comfort and duration of microstates E showed the strongest evidence (BF10 > 10); remaining correlations showed substantial evidence (10 > BF10 > 3). Conclusion: Our study indicates the relevance of assessments of spontaneous thought occurring during the resting-state for the understanding of the intrinsic brain activity reflected in microstates.

The resting-state paradigm is frequently applied to study spontaneous activity of the brain in normal and clinical conditions. To assess the relationship between brain activity and subjective experiences, various questionnaires are used. Previous studies using Amsterdam Resting State Questionnaire were focusing on fMRI functional connectivity or EEG microstates and spectral aspect. Here, we utilized Global Field Synchronization as the parameter to estimate global functional connectivity. By re-analyzing the resting-state data from 226 young healthy participants we showed a strong evidence of relationship between ARSQ domain of Comfort and GFS values in the alpha range (r = 0.210, BF10 = 12.338) and substantial evidence for positive relationship between ARSQ domain of Comfort and GFS in the beta frequency range (r = 196, BF10 = 6.307). Our study indicates the relevance of assessments of spontaneous thought occurring during the resting-state for the understanding of the individual intrinsic electrical brain activity.

Research on video gaming has been challenged by the way to properly measure individual play experience as a continuum, and current research primarily focuses on persons with gaming disorder based on the diagnostic criteria established in relation to substance use and gambling. To better capture the complexity and dynamic experience of gaming, an understanding of brain functional changes related to gaming is necessary. Based on the proinflammatory hypothesis of addiction, this scoping review was aiming to (1) survey the literature published since 2012 to determine how data pertinent to the measurement of stress response had been reported in video gaming studies and (2) clarify the link between gaming and stress response. Eleven studies were included in this review, and the results suggest that gaming could stimulate a stress-like physiological response, and the direction of this response is influenced by an individual’s biological profile, history of gaming, and gaming content. Our findings highlight the need for future investigation of the stress-behaviour correlation in the context of gaming, and this will assist in understanding the biological mechanisms underlying game addiction and inform the potential targets for addiction-related proinflammatory research.