Exploring Neural Correlates of Social Media Use: A Review of BOLD fMRI Studies Utilizing in-scanner Social Media Exposure

Abstract

The goal of this project is to synthesize articles that provide a new look into the neural correlates of social media use by utilizing BOLD fMRI and in-scanner social media stimuli. Seven articles that matched the criteria were selected for this paper: (n=6) task-based BOLD fMRI utilizing social media stimuli and (n=1) resting-state fMRI included to show the importance of longitudinal research design in the same field. Results include a discussion of the convergence and divergence amongst the studies, the importance of imaging techniques (resting state, whole brain) that could potentially benefit similar studies, the importance of longitudinal study design, and what future studies could look like. The paper is limited by the small amount of eligible literature available, so conclusions should remain tentative. As mentioned by five of the seven articles included, more longitudinal research is needed to assess the neural and behavioral correlates of social media use.