Prioritize longitudinal designs, detailed screen-time measures, and late-adolescent samples in future neuroimaging research¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 review), q3 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

As a research-gap strategy, the review recommends that future studies address the field's methodological weaknesses. It states that "more longitudinal research is needed to identify structural changes related to Internet-related habits and use over time" and that such studies "should use more detailed measures of screen time (e.g., including smartphone and social media use)" and replicate results in late adolescent populations, since most current evidence is cross-sectional and covers early-to-mid adolescence.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Studies must include original MRI, fMRI, or VBM analyses with underage populations (mean age ≤ 18 years)

Constraints¶

• Current evidence base is limited to 16 studies published 2010-2020, mostly from North America and Asia

Target Learners¶

• adolescents (pre-adolescence to late adolescence)

Target Learning Goals¶

• establishing causal mechanisms linking screen time to adolescent brain development

Claims¶

• Frequency of Internet use negatively predicts longitudinal change in gray and white matter volumes and in verbal IQ in early adolescents [+W]

Related Strategies¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Marciano Laura, Camerini Anne-Linda, Morese Rosalba. (2021). The Developing Brain in the Digital Era: A Scoping Review of Structural and Functional Correlates of Screen Time in Adolescence. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.671817