Neural activity during simple visual imagery compared with mental rotation imagery in young adults with smartphone overuse

Objective: This research investigated the effects of simple visual imagery and mental rotation imagery on neural activity of adults who are at high risk of smart phone addiction by measuring their electroencephalography (EEG). Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty people with a high risk of smart phone addiction was selected and then were evaluated for their neural activation patterns using EEG after reminding them about simple visual imagery and mental rotation imagery. A simple visual image was applied for 20 seconds using a smartphone. This was followed by a resting period of 20 seconds. Mental rotation imagery was applied for 20 seconds. During mental rotation imagery, the rotational angle was selected at random. We compared activation patterns according to the analyzed EEG with hemisphere reminding them about imagery. Results: On the EEG, theta rhythm from the left hemisphere parietal area increased when the subjects were reminded of mental rotation imagery, and sensorimotor rhythm from close to the left hemisphere area increased when the subjects were reminded of simple visual imagery. Conclusions: Neural activation from the left hemisphere occurs for motor imagery in adults who are at high risk of smart phone addiction. These results identify a neural mechanism of adults who a have high risk of smart phone addiction, which may provide contribute to the development of motor rehabilitation for smartphone users.