Age‐related and individual variations in altered prefrontal and cerebellar connectivity associated with the tendency of developing internet addiction

Abstract

Internet addiction refers to problematic patterns of internet use that continually alter the neural organization and brain networks that control impulsive behaviors and inhibitory functions. Individuals with elevated tendencies to develop internet addiction represent the transition between healthy and clinical conditions and may progress to behavioral addictive disorders. In this network neuroscience study, we used resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI) to examine how and whether individual variations in the tendency of developing internet addiction rewire functional connectivity and diminish the amplitude of spontaneous low‐frequency fluctuations in healthy brains. The influence of neurocognitive aging (aged over 60 years) on executive‐cerebellar networks responsible for internet addictive behavior was also investigated. Our results revealed that individuals with an elevated tendency of developing internet addiction had disrupted executive‐cerebellar networks but increased occipital‐putamen connectivity, probably resulting from addiction‐sensitive cognitive control processes and bottom‐up sensory plasticity. Neurocognitive aging alleviated the effects of reduced mechanisms of prefrontal and cerebellar connectivity, suggesting age‐related modulation of addiction‐associated brain networks in response to compulsive internet use. Our findings highlight age‐related and individual differences in altered functional connectivity and the brain networks of individuals at a high risk of developing internet addictive disorders. These results offer novel network‐based preclinical markers of internet addictive behaviors for individuals of different ages.

Structural and Functional Neural Correlates in Individuals with Excessive Smartphone Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…With respect to the possible role of the lingual gyrus (BA18) in excessive smartphone use, a previous investigation has demonstrated that not only does the area receive information from the primary visual cortex but it also affects the cortical endophenotypes for anxiety and depression [ 50 ] which are common emotional comorbidities related to problematic smartphone use [ 7 , 45 ]. Consistent with the function of automatic emotion regulation of the cerebellum [ 49 ] as well as the role of the lingual gyrus (BA18) in modulating both voluntary and automatic emotions [ 50 ], a previous clinical trial has shown that the middle frontal gyrus (BA46) is also responsible for voluntary and automatic emotion control [ 51 ].…”

“…Our ALE results revealed an association between excessive smartphone use and activation of several brain areas, namely the right posterior lobe of cerebellum, the right lingual gyrus (BA18), and the left middle frontal gyrus (BA46) ( Figure 4 and Table 4 ). Regarding the relationship between the cerebellum and behavioral addiction, a previous observational study has reported a disruption of executive-cerebellar networks but increased occipital-putamen connectivity in internet addicts, probably resulting from addiction-sensitive cognitive control processes and bottom-up sensory plasticity [ 49 ]. With respect to the possible role of the lingual gyrus (BA18) in excessive smartphone use, a previous investigation has demonstrated that not only does the area receive information from the primary visual cortex but it also affects the cortical endophenotypes for anxiety and depression [ 50 ] which are common emotional comorbidities related to problematic smartphone use [ 7 , 45 ].…”

The moderating effect of resting heart rate variability on the relationship between internet addiction tendency and brain morphology

“…Moreover, functional and structural abnormalities of the cerebellum have been linked with IA disorder 48,57 and IAT in healthy adults 12,13 . Patil and colleagues found that reduced spontaneous neuronal activity in the cerebellum was associated with a tendency of developing IA in healthy subjects 12 . A recent structural MRI study showed that the cerebellar volume was negatively correlated with IAT in healthy individuals 13 .…”

“…12,13 Patil and colleagues found that reduced spontaneous neuronal activity in the cerebellum was associated with a tendency of developing IA in healthy subjects. 12 A recent structural MRI study showed that the cerebellar volume was negatively correlated with IAT in healthy individuals. 13 The current result extended the previous finding by showing that there was a negative relationship between IAT scores and cerebellar volume in individuals with lower resting RMSSD.…”

“…Individuals with a higher tendency of developing IA represent the transition between healthy and clinical conditions and may progress to behavioural addictive disorders. 12 Investigation of neural underpinnings of IAT is helpful to identify potential preclinical markers of brain dysfunction resulting from IA and provide possible interventions and pharmacotherapies to treat IA. 13 To date, several studies have uncovered structural neural correlates of IAT in healthy subjects.…”