Cognitive Biases toward Internet Game-Related Pictures and Executive Deficits in Individuals with an Internet Game Addiction

Abstract

BackgroundThe cue-related go/no-go switching task provides an experimental approach to study individual’s flexibility in changing situations. Because Internet addiction disorder (IAD) belongs to the compulsive-impulsive spectrum of disorders, it should present cognitive bias and executive functioning deficit characteristics of some of these types of disorders. Until now, no studies have been reported on cognitive bias and executive function involving mental flexibility and response inhibition in IAD.Methodology/Principal FindingsA total of 46 subjects who met the criteria of the modified Young’s Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet addiction (YDQ) were recruited as an Internet game addiction (IGA) group, along with 46 healthy control individuals. All participants performed the Internet game-shifting task. Using hit rate, RT, d′ and C as the dependent measures, a three-way ANOVA (group × target × condition) was performed. For hit rate, a significant effect of group, type of target and condition were found. The group–target interaction effect was significant. For RT, significant effects were revealed for group and type of target. The group–target interaction effect was significant. Comparisons of the means revealed that the slowing down of IGA relative to NIA was more pronounced when the target stimuli were neutral as opposed to Internet game-related pictures. In addition, the group–condition interaction effect was significant. For d′, significant effects of group, type of target and condition were found. The group–target interaction effect was significant. For C, the type of target produced a significant effect. There was a positive correlation between the length of the addiction (number of years) and the severity of the cognitive bias.ConclusionsIGA present cognitive biases towards information related to Internet gaming. These biases, as well as poor executive functioning skills (lower mental flexibility and response inhibition), might be responsible for Internet game addiction. The assessment of cognitive biases in IGA might provide a methodology for evaluation of therapeutic effects.

Automatic Mental Processes, Automatic Actions and Behaviours in Game Transfer Phenomena: An Empirical Self-Report Study Using Online Forum Data

“…Moreover, when gamers found themselves paying attention to real life objects relevant to the videogame, it resulted in 'selective attention'. This is similar to individuals with gaming or alcohol problems that respond more to stimuli related to gaming or alcohol (Cox, Hogan, Kristian, & Race, 2002;Zhou, Yuan, & Yao, 2012).…”

Internet Addiction Disorder

“…measured event-related brain potentials during a color-word Stroop task and noted that Internetaddicted individuals showed longer reaction time and more response errors on the Stroop task and reduced medial frontal negativity, indicating impaired executive control ability. Zhou, Yuan, and Yao (2012) found that among individuals with Internet game addiction, cognitive bias and executive function constructs involving mental flexibility and response inhibition were worse among longer-term users. Park et al (2011) also found impaired performance related to attention among individuals who had IAD for a longer period of time.…”

Internet Gaming Disorder

“…Further, Internet gaming addiction (IGA) presents cognitive biases toward information related to Internet gaming. These biases, as well as poor executive functioning skills (lower mental flexibility and response inhibition), might contribute to IGD [41]. Although these studies reported that cognitive characteristics associated with substance use disorder are similar to those in IGD, the number of reports is limited.…”