The Effect Of Pathological Internet Use On Working Memory

The internet has become an important factor in the development of students.As other factors,the internet influences the cognitive functions to a measurable degree..Some research showed that excessive internet use can change the memory model of long-term memory and short-memory,but studies that have investigated how pathological internet use affect the working memory are scarce.However,the current study documented the effect of pathological internet use on the working memory among college students,in order to enrich the theories of internet addictions,and also guide the intervention of internet addictions.We recruited 27 pathological internet users and 27 ordinary internet users among 119 college students to participate the N-back task and delay-match tasks.There results of this study suggested a higher accuracy for those that scored higher in the pathological internet use scale in the 2-back and dot delay match tasks performed,and accuracy impaired in the zero-back and letter delay match tasks for those that also fell in the high internet use scale.The mixed result called into question whether the internet was good or bad,and it was possible to tentatively suggest that high internet use does not necessarily only have negative effects on the users,but rather calls into action the existing working memory orientations that exist in the internet users,as highlighted in Davis(2011)cognitive behavioral model of internet use as a means to understand how pathological internet use occurs in the first place,as well as the work by Prensky(2001)that highlights the cognitive differences that take place as a result of pathological internet use,and suggestions as to how this can be used in the classroom through novel educational video games.Thus,the present study provides the scientific evidences on the intervention of pathological internet...