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Electrical Brain Stimulation for College Students With Short-Form Video Addiction: Effects and Mechanisms

6 novembre 2026 aggiornato da: Beijing Normal University

Effects and Mechanisms of High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) Intervention on Short-Form Video Addiction

The researchers will test whether high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) combined with real-time short-form video cue exposure can reduce addiction severity and daily usage time in college students with problematic short-form video use. By modulating the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, this study aims to explore whether the treatment improves executive function (such as self-control and risk decision-making) and emotional-cognitive processes (such as craving and attentional bias). Assessments will be conducted before, immediately after the 2-week intervention, and at a 4-week follow-up, using both subjective surveys and objective computer cognitive tasks. Results could pave the way for a low-cost, non-invasive, and scalable intervention strategy to address the growing public health concern of short-form video addiction among young adults.

Panoramica dello studio

Stato

Non ancora reclutamento

Condizioni

Intervento / Trattamento

Descrizione dettagliata

Over the past few years, problematic short-form video use has emerged as a significant public health concern among college students, associated with impaired executive function, academic decline, and emotional distress. Neuroimaging studies suggest that excessive short-form video consumption is linked to hypoactivity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), which disrupts the balance between cognitive control and reward-driven habits. However, evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions for short-form video addiction remain scarce.

This study builds upon the dual-pathway model of internet addiction and utilizes a high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) protocol with a 4x1 ring configuration targeting the right dlPFC (center anode with 4 surrounding return electrodes) to restore prefrontal control. Participants will receive 10 daily HD-tDCS sessions over 2 consecutive weeks. Crucially, to enhance the targeted therapeutic effect, participants will undergo concurrent cue exposure-watching short-form videos on their personal mobile phones for 12 minutes during each 15-minute active or sham HD-tDCS session.

This randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial (N=82) employs a longitudinal design with three assessment time points (baseline, post-intervention at week 2, and a 4-week follow-up). We hypothesize that active HD-tDCS will significantly reduce addiction symptoms and usage duration compared to sham. Furthermore, we propose a parallel mediation model to explore the underlying mechanisms: specifically, whether the intervention effect is mediated by improvements in executive function (response inhibition and risk decision-making) and emotional-cognitive pathways (reductions in craving and attentional bias). Results may inform the development of scalable, neuroplasticity-based interventions to mitigate digital addiction and promote mental well-being in young adults.

The sample size was determined a priori using G*Power software (version 3.1.9.7). Based on the effect size (Cohen's f = 0.35) derived from previous meta-analytic findings regarding multiple-session tDCS interventions, assuming an alpha error probability of 0.05, a statistical power of 0.80, 2 groups, and 3 repeated measurements (i.e., pre-test, post-test, and 4-week follow-up), a minimum total sample size of 82 participants is required.

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Stimato)

82

Fase

  • Non applicabile

Contatti e Sedi

Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.

Contatto studio

Luoghi di studio

  • Cina
    • Beijing Municipality
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, Cina, 100088
        • Department of Psychology, Beijing Normal University
        • Contatto:

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

Da 18 anni a 30 anni (Adulto)

Accetta volontari sani

No

Sessi ammissibili allo studio

Tutto

Descrizione

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 18 and 30 years.
  • Currently enrolled as a university student.
  • Right-handed.
  • Meets the threshold for problematic short-form video use, as assessed by the Short-form Video Addiction Scale.
  • Primary use: The participant's primary problematic internet use is short-form videos, rather than other behaviors such as online gaming.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed psychiatric disorders.
  • History of neurological disease or traumatic brain injury.
  • History of epilepsy or a family history of epilepsy.
  • Presence of medical implants (e.g., cardiac pacemakers, cochlear implants).
  • Currently receiving pharmacological or psychological treatment.
  • History of receiving any non-invasive brain stimulation (e.g., tDCS, TMS, or tACS) within the past year.
  • Any other contraindications to HD-tDCS (e.g., history of skin lesions/scalp conditions at the electrode sites) or severe physical diseases identified during safety screening.

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

  • Scopo principale: Trattamento
  • Assegnazione: Randomizzato
  • Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
  • Mascheramento: Doppio

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm
Intervento / Trattamento
Sperimentale: Active HD-tDCS Group

Participants receive active high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) using a NeuroConn stimulator. A 4x1 ring electrode configuration is applied: the center anodal (positive) electrode is placed over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F4), surrounded by four cathodal (negative) return electrodes. The stimulation is delivered at 1.5 mA for 15 minutes. Participants receive one session per day, 5 days per week, for 2 consecutive weeks.
Dispositivo: Active High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Active HD-tDCS)

Description: Active HD-tDCS is delivered using a NeuroConn device with a 4x1 ring configuration (center anodal electrode over the right dlPFC, surrounded by 4 cathodal returns). The stimulation is delivered at 1.5 mA for 15 minutes. Participants receive 10 sessions over 2 consecutive weeks (5 days/week). Concurrently during the stimulation, participants watch short-form videos on their mobile phones for approximately 14-15 minutes (using the same platform identified at baseline). A pre-programmed active code ensures strict double-blinding.
Comparatore fittizio: Sham HD-tDCS Group

Participants receive sham HD-tDCS using the identical NeuroConn device, 4x1 ring electrode configuration, and procedure as the active group. The device delivers a brief current (ramped up and down over 30 seconds) at the beginning of the 15-minute session to mimic the initial skin sensation, but the current is turned off for the remainder of the session. Participants receive one session per day, 5 days per week, for 2 consecutive weeks.
Dispositivo: Sham High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Sham HD-tDCS)

Description: Sham HD-tDCS uses the identical NeuroConn device and 4x1 ring configuration as the active group. The current is ramped up for 30 seconds and then turned off for the remainder of the 15-minute session to mimic the initial skin sensation. Participants receive 10 sessions over 2 consecutive weeks (5 days/week). Concurrently during the sham stimulation, participants watch short-form videos on their mobile phones for approximately 14-15 minutes (using the same platform identified at baseline). A pre-programmed sham code ensures strict double-blinding.

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change in Short-form Video Addiction Scale Score
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention

Assessed using the 25-item Short-form Video Addiction Scale, which includes two dimensions: Addictive Dependence and Negative Consequence. Each item is scored on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree). The total score ranges from 25 to 175. A higher score indicates a more severe level of short-form video addiction.
Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention
Change in Average Daily Short-form Video Use Duration
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention

Self-reported average time (in minutes) spent watching short-form videos per day over the past week. A higher duration indicates more excessive use.
Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention

Misure di risultato secondarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change in Executive Function Composite Score (SSRT & BART)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention

A composite executive function score will be derived using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) from two tasks: (1) Stop-Signal Reaction Time (SSRT) from the Stop-Signal Task, and (2) Adjusted Average Pumps (AAP) from the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). The factor score extracted from the EFA will serve as the composite indicator, accounting for the relative weighting of each measure. Factor scores will be oriented such that higher values indicate better overall executive function.
Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention
Change in Emotion-Cognition Composite Score (Craving, ABS, ER)
Lasso di tempo: Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention

A composite emotion-cognition score will be derived using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) from three measures: (1) Craving Score, (2) Attentional Bias Score (ABS) from the dot-probe task, and (3) Emotion Regulation Score. The factor score extracted from the EFA will serve as the composite indicator to capture the shared variance among these measures. Factor scores will be oriented such that higher values indicate more favorable emotional-cognitive outcomes.
Baseline (Pre-test), Week 2 (Post-test), and Follow-up at 4 weeks after the intervention

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Sponsor

Beijing Normal University

Collaboratori

National Natural Science Foundation of China

Pubblicazioni e link utili

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Collegamenti utili

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Stimato)

15 novembre 2026

Completamento primario (Stimato)

31 maggio 2027

Completamento dello studio (Stimato)

30 giugno 2027

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

6 novembre 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

6 novembre 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

12 novembre 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

12 novembre 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

6 novembre 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 ottobre 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Parole chiave

Termini MeSH pertinenti aggiuntivi

Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio

  • BNU202610120439

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INDECISO

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .

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