BRAIN ACTIVITY IN ADOLESCENTS WITH DIFFERENT INTERNET ADDICTION RISKS

Abstract

Aim: To study electroencephalographic (EEG) changes in adolescents with different risks of developing Internet addiction (IA). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1б-17 years-old adolescents (n = 55) permanently living in the Arctic Russian town of Arkhangelsk. Risk of IA was assessed using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS). By the results of the CIAS test all adolescents were divided into three groups: I - minimal risk of IA, II - increased risk to develop IA and III - stable IA pattern. EEG was evaluated by the values of spectral power (|jV2) in each frequency band. Results: Altogether, 25.5 % of adolescents had minimal risk of developing IA, б3.б% belonged to group 2 and 10.9 % had IA. The organized type of alpha activity EEG was found in 79 % of individuals in group I and in 100 % of individuals in group III. This indicates the optimal age ratio of the activity of the reticular formation, cerebral cortex and diencephalic structures. A large number of negative correlations between compulsive symptoms of IA and all types of EEG activity in group I was determined, which may indicate a resistance of these individuals to addiction. The organized EEG type was detected in 54 %, hypersynchronous type - in 14 %, desynchronized type - in 14 %, disorganized type - in 18 % of group II individuals. A disorganized EEG type with a large ratio of theta EEG waves in the frontal-central brain parts in group II may indicate a high limbic-diencephalic excitation. The correlations between the indicators of the withdrawal symptom scale and the EEG theta-activity reflect the psychological discomfort when access to Internet resources is difficult. Conclusions: Most adolescents with minimal risk of IA and symptoms IA have an organized EEG-type while adolescents with IA have this EEG-type only in a half of the cases, which is caused by the heterochronia of the EEG formation in the Arctic residents and the peculiarities of the formation and development of IA.