Comparative efficacy of different interventions on executive function in adolescents with internet use disorder

Peisheng Ma; Zhongliang Xia; Yunbo Zhao; Yu Zhao

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.04.018

Comparative efficacy of different interventions on executive function in adolescents with internet use disorder

J Psychiatr Res. 2024 Apr 13:174:197-208. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.04.018. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Peisheng Ma¹, Zhongliang Xia², Yunbo Zhao³, Yu Zhao⁴

Affiliations

¹ Graduate Work Department, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China. Electronic address: 1511226487@qq.com.
² School of Physical Education, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China. Electronic address: xiazhongliang1979@163.com.
³ School of Sports Science, Anyang Preschool Education College, Anyang, China. Electronic address: zhaoyunbo1994@163.com.
⁴ Department of Physical Education, Shenyang Institute of Science and Technology, Shenyang, China. Electronic address: 2421929279@qq.com.

PMID: 38648724
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.04.018

Abstract

Background: The formation and relapse of Internet use disorder (IUD) are related to the decline in executive function. Previous studies have indicated that exercise intervention and high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) can improve the cognitive abilities of adolescents with IUD. However, the combined intervention's impact on executive function in these adolescents remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effects and differences of multimodal exercise, HD-tDCS intervention, and combined intervention on the executive function of adolescents with IUD.

Methods: Forty-eight adolescents with IUD were randomly assigned to the multimodal exercise group, HD-tDCS intervention group, combined intervention group, and control group. The intervention groups received 4 weeks of moderate-intensity multimodal exercise, HD-tDCS intervention (2 mA, 20min/session, 3 times/week), or combined multimodal exercise with HD-tDCS intervention. The control group received conventional educational learning. Executive function measurements were taken before intervention, after intervention, and 2 weeks post-intervention.

Results: Compared to pre-intervention, different interventions effectively improved the behavioral performance of adolescents with IUD in executive function tasks. In comparison to single interventions, the combined intervention significantly outperformed multimodal exercise and HD-tDCS intervention in influencing the executive function (especially inhibitory control and working memory) in adolescents with IUD.

Conclusion: Combined multimodal exercise with HD-tDCS intervention proves to be an effective means of enhancing executive function in adolescents with IUD, particularly contributing to the improvement of explicit behavioral performance related to executive function.

Keywords: Combined intervention; Executive function; High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation; Internet use disorder; Multimodal exercise.