Frequent Internet use is associated with better episodic memory performance – Scientific Reports

Episodic memory plays an important role in adaptive memory connected to the Internet. The purpose of the current study is to investigate how internet frequency is related to episodic memory using delayed and delayed memory tasks. Recent research shows that frequent internet use is positively associated with episodic memory. By analyzing data from the UKHLS, the current study found that the hypothesis of the current study is supported by recent results. Its implications and limitations will be discussed.

The present results show that there were multivariate and univariate effects of frequent Internet use on memory and delayed memory as shown by the results from multivariate and univariate ANOVA. MANOVA examines several variables simultaneously, and reveals whether there are significant differences in the combination of variables within groups, thereby taking into account their interactions and providing a more comprehensive view than univariate ANOVAs. While univariate ANOVAs test each variable independently, which can increase the risk of Type I error, MANOVA controls for this by testing the dependent variables together. In the present study, MANOVA showed significance, showing the effect of Internet use on immediate memory and delayed memory tasks, providing strong evidence of the association between Internet use and episodic memory in addition to univariate ANOVA. This approach provides an in-depth understanding of many relationships and processes, thus identifying subtle effects of Internet use and interactions between delayed and delayed verbal memory that may be missed when evaluated individually.

The results of the multiple comparisons also showed that people who use the Internet more often have higher performance than those who use the Internet less often. Furthermore, these results were consistently found across different Internet use groups and across all occupations. This evidence supports the claim that Internet use is related to long-term memory, with frequent Internet use leading to better memory than one would expect.

These findings are generally consistent with the idea that the Internet can act as an episodic memory²¹. Episodic memory occurs when a person wants to recall the stored external memory. Thus, even semantic memory can be affected by Internet use (eg^22,23,24), internet use is positively associated with episodic memory because the frequent use of episodic features promotes (e.g., a “use it or lose it” idea;^{16, 17}). The results of the current study are consistent with the evolution of episodic memory, which not only preserves past records but can provide current and future capabilities.^12,13,14,15. Episodic memory allows people to mentally travel, allowing them to reconstruct past events and predict future events. This ability to make mental comparisons is important for planning, problem solving, and decision making. By using the experience of the past, people can anticipate future needs and challenges, improve their ability to navigate difficult situations and make better decisions. Therefore, the improvement of episodic memory through the use of the Internet shows that the digital environment, in order for users to remember and access stored information, can promote mental processes that are beneficial for working in the present and planning for the future.

In particular, the increased memory and latency associated with frequent Internet use may be related to the different emotional and arousal effects associated with Internet activity. Immediate memory, which includes recalling information immediately after it is presented, can be enhanced by frequent Internet use due to the constant need to process and respond to information, such as reading articles, browsing social media, or interacting online. . These activities can improve short-term memory and information processing skills. On the other hand, long-term memory, which involves recalling information over a long period of time, can also be affected by Internet use, albeit in a different way. Frequent Internet users often engage in activities that require long-term memory, such as re-reading saved articles, recalling tips or techniques for online learning, or re-reading discussions from forums. The practice of these cognitive tasks can improve memory and delayed memory, showing a strong interaction that is controlled by regular Internet use.

The present study has several limitations. First, a cross-sectional design cannot establish a causal relationship between Internet use and episodic memory. It remains unclear whether frequent Internet use improves episodic memory or whether people with good episodic memory use the Internet more. Future studies should consider a longitudinal design to clarify this relationship.

In addition, Firth et al.²¹ point out that using the Internet serves two main purposes: social interaction and information consumption. Differentiating these goals may improve our understanding of how Internet use affects memory. Research shows that online interactions affect cognition in the same way as real-world interactions, and that the size of an online network is related to associative memory.²⁵. Excessive use of social media has been linked to reduced gray matter in brain regions related to social cognition, emotional regulation, and addiction.^{26, 27}. Like Firth²¹ known, public and non-public online activities are interconnected. For example, knowledge acquired in non-social settings often creates social relationships. Future research should investigate the interaction between these factors and their effects on cognition. It is also important to look at how different platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat affect episodic memory. Although social interaction can be beneficial, excessive Internet use can reduce real-life experiences and disrupt behaviors such as sleep, which can affect memory.²⁸. Further research should investigate the specific effects of Internet use on the parts of the brain that support memory, and how different types of Internet use—such as memory recall—may affect episodic memory. Finally, future studies should investigate possible links between Internet use and other types of memory, such as semantic memory, and its effects on general information.

There are several implications that can be drawn from the present study. Health professionals and organizations can come up with evidence-based guidelines for the amount and types of Internet use similar to public health guidelines for other health issues, such as sleep and physical activity.^29,30. These guidelines may be disseminated to the general public so that people can make decisions based on these guidelines regarding their use of the Internet. In addition, Internet use is associated with better episodic memory, future studies can also investigate how Internet technologies can be used to prevent and possibly improve episodic memory in people with dementia. Indeed, there have been examples of using Internet technology to improve public health and awareness. For example, the longest-running example is Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (iCBT), which can deliver CHT through computer technology to help people with a variety of psychological symptoms. Also, it has been shown to be as effective as face-to-face therapy³¹. Mobile phone technology also creates new platforms for providing user-interfaces through the Internet.³². One meta-analysis showed the effectiveness of using a dedicated smartphone to reduce depression and anxiety³³. However, the extent to which this is due to the support itself rather than to the use of mobile phones and people’s connection to their mobile phones remains to be determined.³⁴.

Finally, the current study investigated the relationship between frequent internet use and episodic memory interactions in a large nationally representative sample from the UK. Although the present study presented findings regarding the effect of frequent Internet use on episodic memory, future studies are needed to investigate other types of memory and how associations may be affected in different contexts (social vs. nonsocial) and platforms, and how they relate to brain structure and his works. In conclusion, the present study can be used as a proof-of-concept for the development of public health guidelines and digital support for people with cognitive and neurological conditions such as episodic dementia.