Effect of Internet Addiction on Cognition - An Event Related Potential (P300) Study

Abstract

Background and Aim: Younger population is more vulnerable for developing internet addiction without being even aware of it. Event related potentials alteration, indicative of abnormality of cognitive function; occur in various substance addictions. Could internet addiction contribute to these similar alterations? To address this question, we compared event related potentials in students having internet addiction to those with no internet addiction. Methods: A total of 312 medical college students were screened for internet addiction using Young Internet addiction test (IAT) questionnaire. P300 recordings (a component of event related potential) were made using EMG/NCS/EP – 4 Channel system- Octopus 4 machine and compared between 30 moderate internet addicts (IAT score > 60) and 30 non addicts (IAT score <30) using independent sample t test. Correlation analysis was done using Pearson correlation. The level of significance was kept at P< 0.05 for all the tests. Results: The prevalence of internet addiction was 25.3% and 10.25% for mild and moderate internet addictions respectively. No student had severe internet addiction. Moderate internet addicts spent more than twice the average weekly hours of internet usage than non addicts. P300 latency was significantly prolonged in internet addicts compared to non addicts and the amplitude of P300 wave was found to be significantly lower in internet addicts. Conclusion: The significantly increased P300 latency and reduced P300 amplitude indicates cognitive decline in internet addicts.