Neuroplastic changes in functional connectivity associated with problematic smartphone use in a data-driven rs-fMRI study
Abstract
Previous studies revealed altered functional connections in problematic smartphone use (PSU), but most of the studies used self-reported data to assess PSU. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated neuroplastic changes in functional connectivity (FC) associated with PSU and objectively measured smartphone screen time (OMST) using data-driven multivariate pattern analysis. Based on our results, OMST had no direct effect on FC, but the FC between the somatomotor and the frontoparietal networks was negatively, while the connection between the somatomotor and limbic networks was positively associated with PSU. In addition, the FC between the default mode network and the limbic system was negatively, while connectivity between the default mode and the somatomotor networks was also negatively associated with PSU. In light of our findings, PSU may impair higher level brain networks, although future studies are highly needed to determine which specific objectively measured screen time activities might affect brain functions.
Related
- Gender Differences between Cyberbullying Victimization and Problematic Smartphone Use: The Longitudinal Mediating Effects of Psychological Distress and Fear of Missing Out
- Repeated prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation improves behavioral regulation and modulates resting-state EEG microstate dynamics in young adults with problematic smartphone use: a randomized sham-controlled longitudinal study
- Shared and distinct patterns of cortical network-level functional connectivity associated with child psychopathology dimensions
- Problematic smartphone use and academic procrastination over an academic year: a four-wave random intercept cross-lagged panel study of Chinese undergraduates.
- Inflammation is associated with altered functional connectivity of the cingulate cortex in individuals with subthreshold depression
BibTeX
@article{arato2026neuroplastic,
title = {{Neuroplastic changes in functional connectivity associated with problematic smartphone use in a data-driven rs-fMRI study}},
author = {Ákos Arató and Gergely Darnai and Barnabás Dudás and Anna Tímea Szente and Husamalddin Ali Alhour and Gábor Perlaki and Gergely Orsi and Szilvia Anett Nagy and József Janszky},
journal = {iScience},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2026.117913},
url = {https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(26)03296-7},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Neuroplastic changes in functional connectivity associated with problematic smartphone use in a data-driven rs-fMRI study
AU - Ákos Arató
AU - Gergely Darnai
AU - Barnabás Dudás
AU - Anna Tímea Szente
AU - Husamalddin Ali Alhour
AU - Gábor Perlaki
AU - Gergely Orsi
AU - Szilvia Anett Nagy
AU - József Janszky
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - iScience
DO - 10.1016/j.isci.2026.117913
UR - https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(26)03296-7
AB - Previous studies revealed altered functional connections in problematic smartphone use (PSU), but most of the studies used self-reported data to assess PSU. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated neuroplastic changes in functional connectivity (FC) associated with PSU and objectively measured smartphone screen time (OMST) using data-driven multivariate pattern analysis. Based on our results, OMST had no direct effect on FC, but the FC between the somatomotor and the frontoparietal networks was negatively, while the connection between the somatomotor and limbic networks was positively associated with PSU. In addition, the FC between the default mode network and the limbic system was negatively, while connectivity between the default mode and the somatomotor networks was also negatively associated with PSU. In light of our findings, PSU may impair higher level brain networks, although future studies are highly needed to determine which specific objectively measured screen time activities might affect brain functions.
SN - 2589-0042
ER -