| Abstract [eng] |
Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is a modern social problem generally understood as inability to control the Internet use that causes negative consequences in individual’s daily life. It is already shown that excessive use of the Internet shares some common neuromechanisms with substance use disorders (SUD). SUDs are related to the altered dopaminergic transmission, and spontaneous eye blink rate (sEBR) is considered as an indicator of dopaminergic tone. Due to the action of substances used or psychological disorders, dopaminergic activity in the brain can decrease or increase which results in a lower or higher sEBR, respectively. sEBR has not yet been studied in the context of PIU and the aim of this research is to examine if there are any changes of sEBR associated to the internet use patterns. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the sEBR in control and PIU groups and its association with depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Also, the objective is to evaluate the expression of PIU and its association with depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. 30 young adults (mean age 25,36 ± 3,84, 18 women) participated in the study. Based on the scores of Internet Addiction test (IAT) participants were divided into two groups of 15 people each: PIU group (score > 30) indicates problematic internet use and control group (score < 30) indicates non-problematic internet use. Participants underwent a psychological evaluation to determine the association of PIU with depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Electrooculography (EOG) was used to measure eye movements during resting state task (duration of the task was 5 minutes). EOG data were reviewed and then calculated with BLINKER. A PIU group (x͂ = 7,2, IQR = 7,2) showed significantly lower sEBR than control group (x͂ = 16,8, IQR = 8,6). Correlation between IAT scores and sEBR was significant (rs = - 0,37, p = 0,04). Depression (12,2 ± 9,23 PIU group, 6,46 ± 4,51 control group, U = 68,5, p < 0,03) and impulsivity (69,13 ± 5,49 PIU group, 64,26 ± 5,02 control group, U = 64,5, p < 0,02) symptoms are more expressed in PIU group, and only depression and IAT score correlation was significant (rs = 0,44, p = 0,01). This was probably because we studied a healthy human population and due to the small sample of people. Anyway, preliminary data shows that participants with high IAT scores tend to have a lower spontaneous eye blink rate than participants with low IAT scores, suggesting sEBR can further be investigated as one of dopaminergic transmission indicators in PIU associated conditions. |
