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The association between media multitasking and executive function in Chinese adolescents: Evidence from self-reported, behavioral and fNIRS data

Authors :
Jiutong Luo
Hui Li
Pui-sze Yeung
Chunqi Chang
Source :
Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberpspace, Vol 15, Iss 2 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Masaryk University, 2024.

Abstract

This study examined the association between media multitasking and executive function in Chinese adolescents by comparing heavy/high and light/low media multitaskers, i.e., HMMs and LMMs, with self-reports, behavioral measures and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The participants were 12 HMMs (media multitasking scores above the 75th percentile) and 10 LMMs (media multitasking scores below the 25th percentile) chosen from a sample of 61 adolescents. Each participant completed a self-reported questionnaire on executive function and three executive function cognitive tasks: 2-back, Color Stroop, and Number-letter Determination) while wearing the fNIRS. The results indicated that: (1) the HMMs showed more impairment in executive function than the LMMs based on questionnaire data analysis; (2) there were no significant differences between the HMMs and LMMs in their performance on the cognitive tasks; and (3) the HMMs showed greater prefrontal activation than the LMMs during the 2-back and Color Stroop tasks. These findings implied that media multitasking might be associated with the reduced effectiveness in the brain areas responsible for executive function. These findings provide evidence of the negative relationship between media multitasking and executive function; and indicated the benefits of using multiple assessment methods in studying this topic.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
18027962
Volume :
15
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberpspace
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.2c7fc3925d624d979e87069bdb15b2de
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2021-2-8