scholarly journals Cognitive control and reward/loss processing in Internet gaming disorder: Results from a comparison with recreational Internet game-users

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 30-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Dong ◽  
H. Li ◽  
L. Wang ◽  
M.N. Potenza
Keyword(s):  
Internet Gaming Disorder ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Cortical Activation ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Gaming Disorder ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Internet Gaming

AbstractAlthough playing of Internet games may lead to Internet gaming disorder (IGD), most game-users do not develop problems and only a relatively small subset experiences IGD. Game playing may have positive health associations, whereas IGD has been repeatedly associated with negative health measures, and it is thus important to understand differences between individuals with IGD, recreational (non-problematic) game use (RGU) and non-/low-frequency game use (NLFGU). Individuals with IGD have shown differences in neural activations from non-gamers, yet few studies have examined neural differences between individuals with IGD, RGU and NLFGU. Eighteen individuals with IGD, 21 with RGU and 19 with NFLGU performed a color-word Stroop task and a guessing task assessing reward/loss processing. Behavioral and functional imaging data were collected and compared between groups. RGU and NLFGU subjects showed lower Stroop effects as compared with those with IGD. RGU subjects as compared to those with IGD demonstrated less frontal cortical activation brain activation during Stroop performance. During the guessing task, RGU subjects showed greater cortico-striatal activations than IGD subjects during processing of winning outcomes and greater frontal brain during processing of losing outcomes. Findings suggest that RGU as compared with IGD subjects show greater executive control and greater activations of brain regions implicated in motivational processes during reward processing and greater cortical activations during loss processing. These findings suggest neural and behavioral features distinguishing RGU from IGD and mechanisms by which RGU may be motivated to play online games frequently yet avoid developing IGD.

Disrupted prefrontal regulation of striatum-related craving in Internet gaming disorder revealed by dynamic causal modeling: results from a cue-reactivity task

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang-Heng Dong ◽  
Min Wang ◽  
Hui Zheng ◽  
Ziliang Wang ◽  
Xiaoxia Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internet Gaming Disorder ◽  
Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Causal Modeling ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Separate Analysis ◽  
Gaming Disorder ◽  
Lentiform Nucleus ◽  
Internet Gaming

Abstract Background Studies of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) suggest an imbalanced relationship between cognitive control and reward processing in people with IGD. However, it remains unclear how these two systems interact with each other, and whether they could serve as neurobiological markers for IGD. Methods Fifty IGD subjects and matched individuals with recreational game use (RGU) were selected and compared when they were performing a cue-craving task. Regions of interests [anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), lentiform nucleus] were selected based on the comparison between brain responses to gaming-related cues and neutral cues. Directional connectivities among these brain regions were determined using Bayesian estimation. We additionally examined the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in a separate analysis based on data implicating the PCC in craving in addiction. Results During fixed-connectivity analyses, IGD subjects showed blunted ACC-to-lentiform and lentiform-to-ACC connectivity relative to RGU subjects, especially in the left hemisphere. When facing gaming cues, IGD subjects trended toward lower left-hemispheric modulatory effects in ACC-to-lentiform connectivity than RGU subjects. Self-reported cue-related craving prior to scanning correlated inversely with left-hemispheric modulatory effects in ACC-to-lentiform connectivity. Conclusions The results suggesting that prefrontal-to-lentiform connectivity is impaired in IGD provides a possible neurobiological mechanism for difficulties in controlling gaming-cue-elicited cravings. Reduced connectivity ACC-lentiform connectivity may be a useful neurobiological marker for IGD.

scholarly journals Neurobiological mechanisms underlying internet and gaming disorder (IGD)

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-126
Keyword(s):  
Computer Games ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Internet Gaming Disorder ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Gaming Disorder ◽  
Control Networks ◽  
Internet Gaming ◽  
The Impact

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.

scholarly journals Enhanced neural responses in specific phases of reward processing in individuals with Internet gaming disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-111
Author(s):  
Lingxiao Wang ◽  
Guochun Yang ◽  
Ya Zheng ◽  
Zhenghan Li ◽  
Yue Qi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Regulation ◽  
Internet Gaming Disorder ◽  
Reward System ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
The Self ◽  
Gaming Disorder ◽  
Internet Gaming ◽  
Reward Anticipation ◽  
Outcome Monitoring ◽  
Regulation Model

AbstractBackground and aimsInternet gaming disorder (IGD) has become a global health problem. The self-regulation model noted that a shift to reward system, whether due to overwhelming reward-seeking or impaired control, can lead to self-regulation failures, e.g., addiction. The present study focused on the reward processing of IGD, aiming to provide insights into the etiology of IGD. Reward processing includes three phases: reward anticipation, outcome monitoring and choice evaluation. However, it is not clear which phases of reward processing are different between individuals with IGD and healthy controls (HC).MethodsTo address this issue, the present study asked 27 individuals with IGD and 26 HC to complete a roulette task during a functional MRI scan.ResultsCompared with HC, individuals with IGD preferred to take risks in pursuit of high rewards behaviorally and showed exaggerated brain activity in the striatum (nucleus accumbens and caudate) during the reward anticipation and outcome monitoring but not during the choice evaluation.DiscussionThese results reveal that the oversensitivity of the reward system to potential and positive rewards in college students with IGD drives them to approach risky options more frequently although they are able to assess the risk values of options and the correctness of decisions properly as HC do.ConclusionsThese findings provide partial support for the application of the self-regulation model to the IGD population. Moreover, this study enriches this model from the perspective of three phases of reward processing and provides specific targets for future research regarding effective treatment of IGD.

scholarly journals The neural features in the precentral gyrus predict the severity of internet game disorder: results from the multi-voxel pattern analyses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuer Ye ◽  
Min Wang ◽  
Qun Yang ◽  
Haohao Dong ◽  
Guang-Heng Dong
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Predictive Models ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Internet Gaming Disorder ◽  
Resting State Fmri ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Diagnostic Study ◽  
Precentral Gyrus ◽  
Gaming Disorder ◽  
Internet Gaming

AbstractImportanceFinding the neural features that could predict internet gaming disorder severity is important in finding the targets for potential interventions using brain modulation methods.ObjectiveTo determine whether resting-state neural patterns can predict individual variations of internet gaming disorder by applying machine learning method and further investigate brain regions strongly related to IGD severity.DesignThe diagnostic study lasted from December 1, 2013, to November 20, 2019. The data were analyzed from December 31, 2019, to July 10, 2020.SettingThe resting-state fMRI data were collected at East China Normal University, Shanghai.ParticipantsA convenience sample consisting of 402 college students with diverse IGD severityMain Outcomes and MeasuresThe neural patterns were represented by regional homogeneity (ReHo) and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF). Predictive model performance was assessed by Pearson correlation coefficient and standard mean squared error between the predicted and true IGD severity. The correlations between IGD severity and topological features (i.e., degree centrality (DC), betweenness centrality (BC), and nodal efficiency (NE)) of consensus highly weighted regions in predictive models were examined.ResultsThe final dataset consists of 402 college students (mean [SD] age, 21.43 [2.44] years; 239 [59.5%] male). The predictive models could significantly predict IGD severity (model based on ReHo: r = 0.11, p(r) = 0.030, SMSE = 3.73, p(SMSE) = 0.033; model based on ALFF: r=0.19, p(r) = 0.002, SMSE = 3.58, p(SMSE) = 0.002). The highly weighted brain regions that contributed to both predictive models were the right precentral gyrus and the left postcentral gyrus. Moreover, the topological properties of the right precentral gyrus were significantly correlated with IGD severity (DC: r = 0.16, p = 0.001; BC: r = 0.14, p = 0.005; NE: r = 0.15, p = 0.003) whereas no significant result was found for the left postcentral gyrus (DC: r = 0.02, p = 0.673; BC: r = 0.04, p = 0.432; NE: r = 0.02, p = 0.664).Conclusions and RelevanceThe machine learning models could significantly predict IGD severity from resting-state neural patterns at the individual level. The predictions of IGD severity deepen our understanding of the neural mechanism of IGD and have implications for clinical diagnosis of IGD. In addition, we propose precentral gyrus as a potential target for physiological treatment interventions for IGD.Key PointsQuestionCan machine learning algorithms predict internet gaming disorder (IGD) from resting-state neural patterns?FindingsThis diagnostic study collected resting-state fMRI data from 402 subjects with diverse IGD severity. We found that machine learning models based on resting-state neural patterns yielded significant predictions of IGD severity. In addition, the topological neural features of precentral gyrus, which is a consensus highly weighted region, is significantly correlated with IGD severity.MeaningThe study found that IGD is a distinctive disorder and its dependence severity could be predicted by brain features. The precentral gyrus and its connection with other brain regions could be view as targets for potential IGD intervention, especially using brain modulation methods.

scholarly journals Reliability of the fMRI-based assessment of self-evaluation in individuals with internet gaming disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Bach ◽  
Holger Hill ◽  
Iris Reinhard ◽  
Theresa Gädeke ◽  
Falk Kiefer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internet Gaming Disorder ◽  
Brain Activation ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Gaming Disorder ◽  
Retest Reliability ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Internet Gaming ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

AbstractThe self-concept—defined as the cognitive representation of beliefs about oneself—determines how individuals view themselves, others, and their actions. A negative self-concept can drive gaming use and internet gaming disorder (IGD). The assessment of the neural correlates of self-evaluation gained popularity to assess the self-concept in individuals with IGD. This attempt, however, seems to critically depend on the reliability of the investigated task-fMRI brain activation. As first study to date, we assessed test–retest reliability of an fMRI self-evaluation task. Test–retest reliability of neural brain activation between two separate fMRI sessions (approximately 12 months apart) was investigated in N = 29 healthy participants and N = 11 individuals with pathological internet gaming. We computed reliability estimates for the different task contrasts (self, a familiar, and an unknown person) and the contrast (self > familiar and unknown person). Data indicated good test–retest reliability of brain activation, captured by the “self”, “familiar person”, and “unknown person” contrasts, in a large network of brain regions in the whole sample (N = 40) and when considering both experimental groups separately. In contrast to that, only a small set of brain regions showed moderate to good reliability, when investigating the contrasts (“self > familiar and unknown person”). The lower reliability of the contrast can be attributed to the fact that the constituting contrast conditions were highly correlated. Future research on self-evaluation should be cautioned by the findings of substantial local reliability differences across the brain and employ methods to overcome these limitations.

scholarly journals Males are more sensitive to reward and less sensitive to loss than females among people with internet gaming disorder: fMRI evidence from a card-guessing task

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jialin Zhang ◽  
Yan Hu ◽  
Ziliang Wang ◽  
Xiaoxia Du ◽  
Guangheng Dong
Keyword(s):  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Internet Gaming Disorder ◽  
Group Interaction ◽  
Neural Mechanism ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Parahippocampal Gyrus ◽  
Gaming Disorder ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Internet Gaming ◽  
Keywords Internet

Abstract Background Many studies have found an interesting issue in the Internet gaming disorder (IGD): males are always observed to be the majority. Explore why males are more vulnerable to IGD than females could help in understanding the underlying neural mechanism of IGD. Methods Data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were collected from 111 subjects (IGD: 29 male, 25 female; recreational gaming use (RGU): 36 male, 21 female) while they were performing a card-guessing task. We collected and compared their brain features when facing the win and loss conditions in different groups. Results For winning conditions, the gender × addiction group interaction results showed hyperactivity in the thalamus, parahippocampal gyrus and hypoactive inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) in the males with IGD relative to females. For lossing conditions, the gender × addiction group interaction results showed that compared to females with IGD, males with IGD showed decreased brain activities in the IFG and lingual gyrus. Conclusions Males and females showed opposite activation patterns in IGD degree and rewards/losses processing. And male IGD subjects are more sensitive to reward and less sensitive to loss than females, which might be the reason for the gender different rates on IGD. Keywords: Internet gaming disorder; Gender; Reward processing; Loss processing

scholarly journals Altered Reward Processing System in Internet Gaming Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syeda Raiha ◽  
Guochun Yang ◽  
Lingxiao Wang ◽  
Weine Dai ◽  
Haiyan Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Taking ◽  
Internet Gaming Disorder ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Gaming Addiction ◽  
Gaming Disorder ◽  
Internet Gaming ◽  
Internet Gaming Addiction

Converging evidence indicates that addiction involves impairment in reward processing systems. However, the patterns of dysfunction in different stages of reward processing in internet gaming addiction remain unclear. In previous studies, individuals with internet gaming disorder were found to be impulsive and risk taking, but there is no general consensus on the relation between impulsivity and risk-taking tendencies in these individuals. The current study explored behavioral and electrophysiological responses associated with different stages of reward processing among individuals with internet gaming disorders (IGDs) with a delayed discounting task and simple gambling tasks. Compared to the healthy control (HC) group, the IGD group discounted delays more steeply and made more risky choices, irrespective of the outcome. As for the event-related potential (ERP) results, during the reward anticipation stage, IGDs had the same stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN) for both large and small choices, whereas HCs exhibited a higher SPN in large vs. small choices. During the outcome evaluation stage, IGDs exhibited a blunted feedback-related negativity for losses vs. gains. The results indicate impairment across different stages of reward processing among IGDs. Moreover, we found negative correlation between impulsivity indexed by BIS-11 and reward sensitivity indexed by SPN amplitude during anticipation stage only, indicating different neural mechanisms at different stages of reward processing. The current study helps to elucidate the behavioral and neural mechanisms of reward processing in internet gaming addiction.

Altered functional connectivity in default mode network in Internet gaming disorder with childhood ADHD

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S346-S346
Author(s):  
Y.C. Jung ◽  
K. Namkoong
Keyword(s):  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Default Mode Network ◽  
Internet Gaming Disorder ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Posterior Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Gaming Disorder ◽  
Default Mode ◽  
Childhood Adhd ◽  
Internet Gaming

ObjectiveInternet gaming disorder (IGD) is a type of behavioral addiction characterized by abnormal executive control, leading to loss of control over excessive gaming. Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common comorbid disorders in IGD, involving delayed development of the executive control system, which could predispose individuals to gaming addiction. We investigated the influence of childhood ADHD on neural network features of IGD.MethodsResting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging analysis was performed on 44 young, male IGD subjects with and without childhood ADHD and 19 age-matched, healthy male controls. Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)-seeded connectivity was evaluated to assess abnormalities in default mode network (DMN) connectivity, which is associated with deficits in executive control.ResultsIGD subjects without childhood ADHD showed expanded functional connectivity (FC) between DMN-related regions (PCC, medial prefrontal cortex, thalamus) compared with controls. These subjects also exhibited expanded FC between the PCC and brain regions implicated in salience processing (anterior insula, orbitofrontal cortex) compared with IGD subjects with childhood ADHD. IGD subjects with childhood ADHD showed expanded FC between the PCC and cerebellum (crus II), a region involved in executive control. The strength of connectivity between the PCC and cerebellum (crus II) was positively correlated with self-reporting scales reflecting impulsiveness.ConclusionIndividuals with IGD showed altered PCC-based FC, the characteristics of which might be dependent upon history of childhood ADHD. Our findings suggest that altered neural networks for executive control in ADHD would be a predisposition for developing IGD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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