Gender Moderates the Neural Impact of Problematic Media Use on Working Memory in Preschoolers: An fNIRS Study

This study investigated the relationship between problematic media use (PMU) and working memory in preschoolers. Parents of children aged 3 to 7 (260 boys, 257 girls; Mage = 5.57, SD = 0.73) in Jinan, China, completed questionnaires assessing children's PMU and working memory. Subsequently, High (nhigh = 32, Mage = 4.53, SD = 0.67) and Low (nlow = 30, Mage = 4.67, SD = 0.66) PMU groups, based on the survey data, complete a dual 1-back task during functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) recording. Behavioral accuracy and reaction time showed no significant group differences. However, a significant interaction between the PMU group and gender on prefrontal activation was observed, F (1, 60) = 5.88 – 7.59, ps < .05, ηp2 = .09 – .12. High-PMU boys exhibited greater left prefrontal activation than low-PMU boys, while low-PMU girls showed greater activation in these same areas compared to low-PMU boys. Furthermore, a three-way interaction of the group, task condition, and gender on prefrontal activation was also found, F(2, 60) = 5.81-6.42, p < .01, ηp² = .10-.19, suggesting that neural responses varied by task and participant characteristics. These findings indicate that PMU may be associated with altered prefrontal activation during working memory tasks in preschoolers, with gender playing a moderating role.