Intersubject correlation analysis reveals the plasticity of cerebral functional connectivity in the long-term use of social media.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Non-randomized longitudinal follow-up study with a pre-post intervention cohort.
PubMed 35072320 · doi:10.1002/hbm.25786
What was done
Thirty-five heavy and 21 light social media users underwent cognitive testing and functional MRI scans. The 21 light users were then assigned a four-week social media task, followed by a repeat functional MRI scan. Investigators used intersubject correlation analysis at the group, individual, and brain-region levels to assess whether the functional connectivity patterns of light users shifted toward those of heavy users following prolonged use.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, effect sizes, or test statistics. Qualitatively, functional connectivity in light users became more similar to heavy users after four weeks of social media use. The changes affected approximately half of the brain, spanning nearly all major functional networks, with the most pronounced connectivity shifts occurring in regions associated with selective attention.
Why it matters
By pairing a longitudinal intervention with intersubject correlation analysis, the study provides preliminary evidence that social media exposure directly alters functional brain connectivity rather than merely reflecting pre-existing neurological differences between heavy and light users.
Limits
The total sample size is small (n = 56 overall; n = 21 in the longitudinal arm), and allocation was non-randomized without an untreated parallel control group for the light users. The abstract does not provide quantitative data, behavioral task performance scores, or details on how the four-week social media dose was controlled or monitored.
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