An error-related negativity potential investigation of response monitoring function in individuals with pathological internet use

Abstract

Objective To investigate response monitoring function in individuals with pathological internet use(PIU) using the modified Eriksen flanker task by event-related potentials(ERPs). Methods 23 individuals met Young's diagnostic questionnaire(YDQ) criteria for PIU were enrolled as research group and 23 sexual-and age matched healthy persons enrolled as control group. EEG was recorded during participants performed the modified Erikson flanker task. Reactive time (RT) and error rates were compared between two groups. BESA 5.2.0 was used to perform data analysis and the error-related negativity (ERN) amplitudes were analyzed. Results False alarm rate of PIU group was higher than that of control group. A repeated measure ANOVA revealed a significant group, frontal electrode sites and group ×frontal electrode sites main effect for ERN amplitudes (for group: F=768, df=1, P=0.000; for frontal electrode sites: F=615, df=2, P=0.000; for group ×frontal electrode sites: F=516, df=2, P=0.000), and a significant group, central electrode sites and group ×central electrode sites main effect for ERN amplitudes (for group: F=768, df=1, P=0.000; for central electrode sites: F=599, df=2, P=0.000; for group ×central electrode sites: F=483, df=2, P=0.000). ERN amplitudes of PIU group were lower than those at control group. Conclusion Individuals with PIU present response monitoring dysfunctions and share neuropsychological and ERPs characteristics of compulsive-impulsive spectrum disorder, which supports that PIU is an impulse disorder or at least related to impulse control disorder. Key words: Pathological Internet use; Event-related potentials; Error-related negativity; The modified Eriksen flanker task