Aberrant posterior superior temporal sulcus functional connectivity and executive dysfunction in adolescents with internet gaming disorder

Abstract

Background and aims The clinical significance of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is spreading worldwide, but its underlying neural mechanism still remains unclear. Moreover, the prevalence of IGD seems to be the highest in adolescents whose brains are in development. This study investigated the functional connectivity between large-scale intrinsic networks including default mode network, executive control network, and salience network. We hypothesized that adolescents with IGD would demonstrate different functional connectivity patterns among large-scale intrinsic networks, implying neurodevelopmental alterations, which might be associated with executive dysfunction. Methods This study included 17 male adolescents with Internet gaming disorder, and 18 age-matched male adolescents as healthy controls. Functional connectivity was examined using seed-to-voxel analysis and seed-to-seed analysis, with the nodes of large-scale intrinsic networks used as region of interests. Group independent component analysis was performed to investigate spatially independent network. Results We identified aberrant functional connectivity of salience network and default mode network with the left posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) in adolescents with IGD. Furthermore, functional connectivity between salience network and pSTS correlated with proneness to Internet addiction and self-reported cognitive problems. Independent component analysis revealed that pSTS was involved in social brain network. Discussion and conclusions The results imply that aberrant functional connectivity of social brain network with default mode network and salience network was identified in IGD that may be associated with executive dysfunction. Our results suggest that inordinate social stimuli during excessive online gaming leads to altered connections among large-scale networks during neurodevelopment of adolescents.

Neural correlates of problematic gaming in adolescents: A systematic review of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies

“…FC between AIC and pSTS correlated positively with cognitive problems. These findings indicate that adolescents with PG are at risk for executive dysfunctions and an imbalance between different brain networks 35 …”

“…58 Adolescents with PG showed altered FC of the SN or DMN with the left pSTS. 35 pSTS plays an important role in the social brain network responsible for social cognition or mentalizing processes. PG might increase the connection between SN and social brain network, which is potentially associated with the amount of online social interactions.…”

“…54 Adolescents with PG also showed alterations in regions associated with identity formation, 21,22 social cognition, and mentalizing. 35 These are important developmental tasks of childhood and adolescents. Again, because longitudinal studies are missing, it cannot be concluded whether deficits in achieving these developmental tasks are predisposing features for PG and/or a negative consequence due to intensive time spent with gaming.…”

Functional Neural Alterations in Pathological Internet Use: A Meta-Analysis of Neuroimaging Studies

“…Executive control dysfunction is a common feature in the subjects with PIU ( 39 ). In our study, multiple brain regions are involved in the executive control function of the brain, mainly including STGtp, SFGdl, and MFG.…”

Effect of internet addiction on psychomotor response and depression among adolescents

“…This results in adolescents becoming extremely aggressive, sad and rebellious. A study conducted by Lee and colleagues 4 involving adolescents with Internet gaming disorder demonstrated that Internet addicts tend to process things much slower than their non-internet addict counterparts.…”