Cortical thickness and volume abnormalities in Internet gaming disorder: Evidence from comparison of recreational Internet game users

Wang, Ziliang; Wu, Lingdan; Yuan, Kai; Hu, Yanbo; Zheng, Hui; Du, Xiaoxia; Dong, Guang-Heng

doi:10.1111/ejn.13987

Cited by 32 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 69 publications

(99 reference statements)

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“…Decreased cortical thickness in brain regions that are involved in cognitive control, decision making, and reward/loss processing (OFC, inferior parietal lobe, cuneus, precentral gyrus, and right middle temporal gyrus) was reported in IGD compared with recreational internet game use. 22 Finally, adolescents with IGD showed decreased cortical thickness in distributed cerebral areas and had a positive correlation between the left insular cortical thickness and symptom severity. 23 …”

Section: Cortical Thicknessmentioning

confidence: 92%

Neurobiological mechanisms underlying internet gaming disorder

Weinstein

Lejoyeux

2020

Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience

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This review summarizes studies on the neurobiological correlates of internet gaming disorder (IGD), presently the most direct approach to analyzing the impact of digital technology and the internet on brain mechanisms. Brain imaging studies have shown that IGD shares, to a large extent, neurobiological alterations that are typical for other addictions, such as: (i) activation in brain regions associated with reward, as evident from cue exposure and craving studies and neurotransmitter systems studies that indicate an involvement of dopamine-mediated reward mechanisms; (ii) reduced activity in impulse control areas and impaired decision making; and (iii) reduced functional connectivity in brain networks that are involved in cognitive control, executive function, motivation, and reward. Moreover, there are structural changes, mainly reduction in gray-matter volume and white-matter density. Comorbidity studies indicate that executive control networks in attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may increase the susceptibility to develop IGD. Most importantly, this review also outlines findings that show the effects of excessive use of screens, here referring to the playing of computer games, which activate many brain regions associated with cognitive, motor, and sensory function and not directly involved in other forms of addiction. This review describes and summarizes comprehensively the neurobiological correlates of addictive internet use in adolescents and young adults.

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Section: Cortical Thicknessmentioning

confidence: 92%

Neurobiological mechanisms underlying internet gaming disorder

Weinstein

Lejoyeux

2020

Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience

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“…There is increasing evidence that, in its extreme, excessive media usage can also lead to behavioral addiction, This seems to be particularly the case for internet gaming. Studies examining the neuronal consequences of internet gaming disorder reported numerous significant changes (99,100), including alterations in resting-state EEG coherence (101), significant alterations in cortical thickness (102,103), altered functional connectivity in the default mode network (104,105), and significant associations with ADHD and other psychiatric disorders (106,107). As they now stand, these findings are correlational and cannot establish causation.…”

Section: Studying the Effects Of Media Overusementioning

confidence: 99%

How early media exposure may affect cognitive function: A review of results from observations in humans and experiments in mice

Christakis

Ramirez

Ferguson

et al. 2018

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is now among the most commonly diagnosed chronic psychological dysfunctions of childhood. By varying estimates, it has increased by 30% in the past 20 years. Environmental factors that might explain this increase have been explored. One such factor may be audiovisual media exposure during early childhood. Observational studies in humans have linked exposure to fast-paced television in the first 3 years of life with subsequent attentional deficits in later childhood. Although longitudinal and well controlled, the observational nature of these studies precludes definitive conclusions regarding a causal relationship. As experimental studies in humans are neither ethical nor practical, mouse models of excessive sensory stimulation (ESS) during childhood, akin to the enrichment studies that have previously shown benefits of stimulation in rodents, have been developed. Experimental studies using this model have corroborated that ESS leads to cognitive and behavioral deficits, some of which may be potentially detrimental. Given the ubiquity of media during childhood, these findings in humansand rodents perhaps have important implications for public health.

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“…Based on previous correlational studies, the brain neurobiology of IGD can be summarized as increased activity within the orbitofrontal cortex and decreased activity within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [9,10]. Kim and Kang [9] found that IGD patients, compared to other gamers, showed a stronger functional connectivity (FC) within the orbitofrontal cortex, which is involved in motivational salience, and a decreased FC within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is involved in learning and attention.…”

Section: Debates On Internet Gaming Disordermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kim and Kang [9] found that IGD patients, compared to other gamers, showed a stronger functional connectivity (FC) within the orbitofrontal cortex, which is involved in motivational salience, and a decreased FC within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is involved in learning and attention. Additionally, Wang et al [10] reported a decreased cortical thickness within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, related to cognitive control, decision making, and reward and loss processing. Motivational salience was thought to be associated with continuous and repetitive behaviors in various addictive diseases [11].…”

Section: Debates On Internet Gaming Disordermentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Behavioral Changes and Brain Activity between Adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder and Student Pro-Gamers

Kwak

Hwang

Kim

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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While pro-gamers play according to defined living habits and planned schedules, adolescents with internet gaming disorder (IGD) exhibit irregular lifestyles and unregulated impulsive gaming behavior. Fourteen IGD adolescents and 12 pro-gaming students participated in this study. At baseline and after one year, demographic data, the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL), depressed mood, anxiety, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were assessed. Over the year, IGD adolescents played games as per their usual schedule, while pro-gamer students played according to their school’s team schedule. After one year, the pro-gamers’ scores had decreased in the CBCL-total (total problematic behaviors), CBCL-externalizing (under-controlled behavior, like impulsivity and aggression), and CBCL-internalizing (over-controlled behavior like depression and anxiety) compared to those of the IGD adolescents. Both groups displayed increased brain activity in the parietal lobe (a component of the attention network) over the years. Compared to pro-gamers, IGD adolescents showed higher brain activity within the left orbitofrontal cortex. Brain activity within the orbitofrontal cortex was associated with CBCL-externalizing scores. These results suggest that gaming had increased the attention network’s brain activity, but a well-organized support system could lead to different results, in terms of improved behaviors and suppressing brain activity within the orbitofrontal cortex.

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Cortical thickness and volume abnormalities in Internet gaming disorder: Evidence from comparison of recreational Internet game users

Cited by 32 publications

References 69 publications

Neurobiological mechanisms underlying internet gaming disorder

Neurobiological mechanisms underlying internet gaming disorder

How early media exposure may affect cognitive function: A review of results from observations in humans and experiments in mice

Comparison of Behavioral Changes and Brain Activity between Adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder and Student Pro-Gamers

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