Avatar’s neurobiological traces in the self-concept of massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) addicts.

Abstract

Psychometric studies suggest that observed self-concept deficits in addicted massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) are compensated through the replacement of their ideal (i.e., how an individual would like to be) by their own avatar (i.e., graphical agent in the virtual world). Neurobiological studies indicate that increased identification with their own avatar in regular MMORPG gamers is possibly reflected by enhanced avatar-referential brain activation in the left angular gyrus (AG). However, the neurobiological correlates reflecting the relations of the avatar to addicted gamers' self and ideal are still unexplored. Therefore, we compare these relations between addicted and nonaddicted MMORPG gamers. A sample of n = 15 addicted and n = 17 nonaddicted players underwent functional MRI (fMRI) while completing a Giessen-Test (GT)-derived paradigm assessing self-, ideal-, and avatar-related self-concept domains. Neurobiological analyses included the comparisons avatar versus self, avatar versus ideal, and avatar versus self, ideal. Psychometrically, addicts showed significantly lower scores on the self-concept subscale of 'social resonance,' that is, social popularity. In all avatar-related contrasts, within-group comparisons showed addicted players to exhibit significantly higher brain activations in the left AG. The between-groups comparisons revealed avatar-related left AG hyperactivations in addicts. Our results may suggest that addicted MMORPG players identify significantly more with their avatar than nonaddicted gamers. The concrete avatar might increasingly replace the rather abstract ideal in the transition from normal- controlled to addictive-compulsive MMORPG usage.

Exploring the Neural Basis of Avatar Identification in Pathological Internet Gamers and of Self-Reflection in Pathological Social Network Users

“…This confirms our findings from a previous study (Dieter et al., 2015). We further observed a significant positive correlation between avatar-related left AG activation and addiction severity.…”

“…However, as our findings on avatar response in Internet gaming addicts replicate those of a previous study (Dieter et al., 2015), we may conclude that our results are meaningful despite the low sample sizes.…”

“…Potential familiarity effects may arise when addicted gamers have a higher number of avatar-related memories than non-addicted gamers, due to the much longer period of time they have spent playing. However, we did not find pathological gamers to have significantly shorter mean reaction times for avatar ratings than healthy controls, an observation also found in our previous study applying the same paradigm (Dieter et al., 2015). Therefore, we can assume that pathological gamers did not access their avatar-related memories faster during trials, which in turn suggests that familiarity effects did not influence the results.…”

“…In this study, we used a previously established and tested fMRI paradigm (Dieter et al., 2015). Carried out in a block design, it involves a 36-item self-assessment scale based on the Giessen-Test (GT; Beckmann, Brähler, & Richter, 1990), where participants are asked to evaluate the extent to which they associate specific personality traits with their “self”, their “ideal” and their avatar on a bipolar scale ranging from –3 to 3.…”

“…Thus far, psychometric tests have suggested that Internet gaming addicts suffer from self-concept deficits and show a stronger identification with their own avatar than healthy controls (Bessière, Seay, & Kiesler, 2007; Davis, 2001; Lemenager et al., 2013). Neurobiological studies reflect these observations, showing that addicted Internet gamers exhibit increased activations in brain regions such as the angular gyrus (AG), the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), the precuneus, and the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC; BA 8, 9, 32), during avatar reflection compared to self-reflection (Dieter et al., 2015). Activation of the left AG has in particular been associated with identification processing and feelings of empathy (Ganesh, van Schie, de Lange, Thompson, & Wigboldus, 2011; Regenbogen et al., 2012; Regenbogen, Habel, & Kellermann, 2013), whereas the MPFC has been functionally linked to self-referential processing in healthy subjects (D’Argembeau et al., 2012).…”