Decreased functional connectivity in an executive control network is related to impaired executive function in Internet gaming disorder

ObjectivePrevious studies have demonstrated that individuals with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) showed attentional bias toward gaming-related cues and exhibited impaired executive functions. The purpose of this study was to explore the alternations in related functional brain networks underlying attentional bias in IGD subjects.MethodsEighteen IGD subjects and 19 healthy controls (HC) were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging while they were performing an addiction Stroop task. Networks of functional connectivity were identified using group independent component analysis (ICA).ResultsICA identified 4 functional networks that showed differences between the 2 groups, which were related to the right executive control network and visual related networks in our study. Within the right executive control network, in contrast to controls, IGD subjects showed increased functional connectivity in the temporal gyrus and frontal gyrus, and reduced functional connectivity in the posterior cingulate cortex, temporal gyrus, and frontal gyrus.ConclusionThese findings suggest that IGD is related to abnormal functional connectivity of the right executive control network, and may be described as addiction-related abnormally increased cognitive control processing and diminished response inhibition during an addiction Stroop task. The results suggest that IGD subjects show increased susceptibility towards gaming-related cues but weakened strength of inhibitory control.

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Disrupted dynamic network reconfiguration of the executive and reward networks in internet gaming disorder: Why IGD subjects cannot control their gaming cravings

10.1101/2021.09.29.462308 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Min Wang ◽

Hui Zheng ◽

Weiran Zhou ◽

Bo Yang ◽

Lingxiao Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Executive Control ◽

Internet Gaming Disorder ◽

Dynamic Network ◽

Control Network ◽

Gaming Disorder ◽

Mediation Effects ◽

Executive Control Network ◽

Internet Gaming ◽

The Right ◽

Male Subjects

AbstractBackgroundStudies have shown that people with internet gaming disorder (IGD) show impaired executive control over their gaming cravings; however, the neural mechanisms underlying this process remain unknown. In addition, these conclusions were based on the hypothesis that brain networks were temporally stationary and neglected changes in cognitive processes.MethodsResting-state fMRI data were collected from 402 subjects (162 subjects with IGD and 240 recreational game users (RGUs)). The community structure (recruitment and integration) of the executive control network and the basal ganglia network (BGN, representing the reward network) of patients with IGD and healthy controls were analyzed and compared. Mediation effects were analyzed among the different networks.ResultsWhen compared to RGUs, subjects with IGD had a lower recruitment coefficient within the right executive control network (ECN). Further analysis showed that only male subjects had a lower recruitment coefficient. Mediation analysis showed that the integration coefficient of the right ECN mediated the relationship between the recruitment coefficients of both the right ECN and the BGN in RGUs.ConclusionsSubjects with IGD had a lower recruitment coefficient than RGUs, and this feature was only observed in male subjects, making them less efficient at impulse control. The meditation results suggest a top-down control mechanism of the ECN is missing in subjects with IGD. All of these findings could explain why subjects with IGD have impaired executive control over their gaming cravings.

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Imbalanced functional link between executive control network and reward network explain the online-game seeking behaviors in Internet gaming disorder

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep09197 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Guangheng Dong ◽

Xiao Lin ◽

Yanbo Hu ◽

Chunming Xie ◽

Xiaoxia Du

Keyword(s):

Executive Control ◽

Internet Gaming Disorder ◽

Control Network ◽

Gaming Disorder ◽

Online Game ◽

Functional Link ◽

Executive Control Network ◽

Internet Gaming ◽

Reward Network

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Dysfunctional default mode network and executive control network in people with Internet gaming disorder: Independent component analysis under a probability discounting task

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.2424 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 34 ◽

pp. 36-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

L Wang ◽

L Wu ◽

X Lin ◽

Y Zhang ◽

H Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Independent Component Analysis ◽

Executive Control ◽

Default Mode Network ◽

Internet Gaming Disorder ◽

Probability Discounting ◽

Control Network ◽

Gaming Disorder ◽

Executive Control Network ◽

Internet Gaming

AbstractBackgroundThe present study identified the neural mechanism of risky decision-making in Internet gaming disorder (IGD) under a probability discounting task.MethodsIndependent component analysis was used on the functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 19 IGD subjects (22.2 ± 3.08 years) and 21 healthy controls (HC, 22.8 ± 3.5 years).ResultsFor the behavioral results, IGD subjects prefer the risky to the fixed options and showed shorter reaction time compared to HC. For the imaging results, the IGD subjects showed higher task-related activity in default mode network (DMN) and less engagement in the executive control network (ECN) than HC when making the risky decisions. Also, we found the activities of DMN correlate negatively with the reaction time and the ECN correlate positively with the probability discounting rates.ConclusionsThe results suggest that people with IGD show altered modulation in DMN and deficit in executive control function, which might be the reason for why the IGD subjects continue to play online games despite the potential negative consequences.

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More stringent criteria are needed for diagnosing internet gaming disorder: Evidence from regional brain features and whole-brain functional connectivity multivariate pattern analyses

Journal of Behavioral Addictions ◽

10.1556/2006.2020.00065 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 642-653

Author(s):

Guang-Heng Dong ◽

Ziliang Wang ◽

Haohao Dong ◽

Min Wang ◽

Yanbin Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Executive Control ◽

Internet Gaming Disorder ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Control Network ◽

Gaming Disorder ◽

Executive Control Network ◽

Dsm 5 ◽

Internet Gaming ◽

Regional Brain ◽

Multivariate Pattern

AbstractBackgroundInternet gaming disorder (IGD) is included in the DSM-5 as a provisional diagnosis. Whether IGD should be regarded as a disorder and, if so, how it should be defined and thresholded have generated considerable debate.MethodsIn the current study, machine learning was used, based on regional and interregional brain features. Resting-state data from 374 subjects (including 148 IGD subjects with DSM-5 scores ≥5 and 93 IGD subjects with DSM-5 scores ≥6) were collected, and multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) was employed to classify IGD from recreational game use (RGU) subjects based on regional brain features (ReHo) and communication between brain regions (functional connectivity; FC). Permutation tests were used to assess classifier performance.ResultsThe results demonstrated that when using DSM-5 scores ≥5 as the inclusion criteria for IGD subjects, MVPA could not differentiate IGD subjects from RGU, whether based on ReHo or FC features or by using different templates. MVPA could differentiate IGD subjects from RGU better than expected by chance when using DSM-5 scores ≥6 with both ReHo and FC features. The brain regions involved in the default mode network and executive control network and the cerebellum exhibited high discriminative power during classification.DiscussionThe current findings challenge the current IGD diagnostic criteria thresholding proposed in the DSM-5, suggesting that more stringent criteria may be needed for diagnosing IGD. The findings suggest that brain regions involved in the default mode network and executive control network relate importantly to the core criteria for IGD.

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

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.02.314 ◽

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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