Altered default-mode network functional connectivity in college students with mobile phone addiction

Objective: The present study aimed to determine whether Default-Mode Network (DMN) connectivity at resting-state is altered in college students with mobile phone addiction (MPA) by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods: The fMRI data were acquired during resting state from 24 college students with MPA and 16 age- and gender- matched normal control college students. Synchronized low-frequency fMRI signal fluctuations were monitored to determine posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) connectivity in all subjects. In order to assess the relationship between MPA behavioral features and alteration in functional connectivity, the z value of areas that exhibited abnormal PCC connectivity in 24 subjects with MPA were correlated with the scores of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Sensation Seeking (SS), Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI) and Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI). Results: Compared with the control group, functional connectivity in the anterior cingulate, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, and right inferior temporal gyrus increased in subjects with MPA. Subjects with MPA revealed higher SAS (P = 0.0293), SDS (P = 0.0056), BIS-11 (P<0.0001), PSQI (P = 0.001), SPAI (P<0.0001) and MPAI (P<0.0001) scores and lower RSS (P = 0.0002) scores, compared to controls. No significant correlations were found between altered functional connectivity and MPA behavioral features. Conclusion: College students with MPA present different behavioral features and DMN functional connectivity, especially in cerebral regions related to cognitive control.