ArticleScientific reports2026
Problematic internet users develop enhanced perceptual processing to offset neural deficits in conflict monitoring.
Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Problematic internet use (PIU) has been extensively studied for its impact on brain function, yet the underlying neural dynamics of information processing remain unclear. This event-related potential (ERP) study employed a numerical Stroop task with congruent, neutral, and incongruent conditions to examine facilitation (congruent–neutral) and interference (incongruent–neutral) effects across multilevel processing stages in individuals with PIU and normal controls. Both group-level and individual-level analyses were conducted to characterize distinct neural patterns and variability. Although behavioral performance was comparable between groups, ERP results revealed differences. The PIU group showed a reduced N450 interference effect, a finding consistent with impaired conflict monitoring. Notably, this neural deficit did not compromise behavioral performance, suggesting the engagement of alternative information processing strategies. Furthermore, ERP facilitation effects were positively correlated with PIU severity, indicate that individuals with PIU may rely more heavily on physical stimulus features across processing stages. This attentional bias aligns with a pattern of heightened early perceptual sensitivity observed in the N100 component. Collectively, these findings suggest that despite deficits in conflict monitoring, individuals with PIU may utilize compensatory attentional mechanisms to maintain performance. This study offers novel insights into the neural architecture of information processing in PIU, highlighting potential compensatory strategies within this population.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.