Changes in brain activity in response to problem solving during the abstinence from online game play

Abstract

Background and aims:Several studies have suggested that addictive disorders including substance abuse and pathologic gambling might be associated with dysfunction on working memory and prefrontal activity. We hypothesized that excessive online game playing is associated with deficits in prefrontal cortex function and that recovery from excessive online game playing might improve prefrontal cortical activation in response to working memory stimulation. Methods: Thirteen adolescents with excessive online game playing (AEOP) and ten healthy adolescents (HC) agreed to participate in this study. The severity of online game play and playing time were evaluated for a baseline measurement and again following four weeks of treatment. Brain activation in response to working memory tasks (simple and complex calculations) at baseline and subsequent measurements was assessed using BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Results: Compared to the HC subjects, the AEOP participants exhibited significantly greater activity in the right middle occipital gyrus, left cerebellum posterior lobe, left premotor cortex and left middle temporal gyrus in response to working memory tasks during baseline measurements. After four weeks of treatment, the AEOP subjects showed increased activity within the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left occipital fusiform gyrus. After four weeks of treatment, changes in the severity of online game playing were negatively correlated with changes in the mean b value of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in response to complex stimulation. Conclusions: We suggest that the effects of online game addiction on working memory may be similar to those observed in patients with substance dependence.

The Modulation of Reward and Habit Systems by Acupuncture in Adolescents with Internet Addiction

“…Furthermore, the greater activity in the PMC-cerebellar loop was demonstrated in substance dependence [63], implicating the overactivation of habitual process. Analogous results were also observed in IA [64]. In our study, the increased rsFC between the PMC and cerebellum was observed, which further illustrated the possible mechanisms underlying the compulsive use of Internet in IA individuals.…”

The prefrontal dysfunction in individuals with Internet gaming disorder: a meta‐analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies

“…; Kim et al . 2012a,b), and the mean age of IGD subjects was 21.2 years. The mean time spent on‐line by IGD individuals was 36.4 hours/week.…”

“…Because we noted that hyperactivity in the left precentral gyrus (Talairach coordinates: −50,−6, 34, voxel number = 88; Z = 2.274; P = 0.000) was reported in only three studies, therefore we conservatively do not consider it as a significant finding (Kim et al . ; Dong et al . 2013a,b).…”

Problematic Online Gaming

“…Early studies suggest that cue-induced gaming urge activates the same brain regions (i.e., dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, and thalamus) that are activated by gambling in the case of pathological gamblers and substance use in the case of substance use abusers (Han et al, 2011;Ko et al, 2009). Other results suggest that the effects of excessive online game playing on working memory may be similar to those observed in patients with substance dependence (Kim et al, 2012). Consequently, researchers assume that problematic online gaming might share the same neurobiological mechanism as pathological gambling and substance dependence (Kuss & Griffiths, 2012c).…”