The present research explored electrophysiological activity (EEG) related to problematic internet use (PIU) vulnerability in a nonclinical population. Vulnerability to PIU was assessed through internet addiction test (IAT) in a sample of 23 participants. Moreover, they underwent a behavioral Iowa gambling task (IGT) for testing decision-making functioning and N2 event-related potentials (ERPs) component was monitored during an attentional inhibitory Go/NoGo task performance with addiction-related background pictures (videogames, online gambling, and neutral stimuli). IAT measure positively correlated with both IGT index and N2 variation at the Go/NoGo task. High-IAT young participants showed specific responses to internet addiction-related cues (pictures representing online gambling) in terms of ERPs amplitude of N2pc for Go trials in Pz. Findings suggested an early attentional facilitation effect for specific addiction-related stimuli, online gambling-related stimuli, suggesting a selective attention bias for salient stimuli in this population. While higher levels of IAT do not seem to correspond to a deficit in decision-making abilities, the selective attention mechanisms show to be partially biased in response to the salience of external cues.

本研究探讨了非临床人群中与有问题的互联网使用 (PIU) 脆弱性相关的电生理活动 (EEG)。通过网络成瘾测试 (IAT) 在 23 名参与者的样本中评估了对 PIU 的脆弱性。此外，他们接受了爱荷华州行为赌博任务 (IGT) 以测试决策功能，并在注意力抑制 Go/NoGo 任务表现期间监测 N2 事件相关电位 (ERP) 组件，并使用与成瘾相关的背景图片（视频游戏、在线赌博） ，和中性刺激）。IAT 测量与 Go/NoGo 任务中的 IGT 指数和 N2 变化呈正相关。高 IAT 的年轻参与者在 Pz 中的围棋试验的 N2pc 的 ERP 幅度方面对与网络成瘾相关的线索（代表在线赌博的图片）表现出特定的反应。研究结果表明，特定成瘾相关刺激、在线赌博相关刺激的早期注意力促进效应，表明该人群中的显着刺激存在选择性注意偏差。虽然较高水平的 IAT 似乎并不对应于决策能力的缺陷，但选择性注意机制显示出部分偏向于响应外部线索的显着性。