Language processing in Internet use disorder: Task-based fMRI study

Abstract

Internet use disorder (IUD) is generally conceptualized as a fast-growing behavioral addiction. Several structural and functional brain alterations have been revealed in this condition, but previous behavioral studies indicated that language systems may also be impaired. We used a silent word generation task to induce brain activation in Broca’s area and other parts of the language system. Blood-oxygen-level-dependent activation analysis and psychophysiological interaction analysis were applied to assess functional brain changes. IUD was measured by the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire and two additional questions concerning usage time and subjective rating of addiction. According to our key findings, areas strongly related to the default mode network were altered in IUD during the task. Moreover, Broca’s area showed altered functional connectivity with other language network and occipital areas in IUD. These findings may address the neural background of decreased verbal fluency performance previously reported in the literature, and we emphasize that beside the brain’s reward and inhibitory control systems, the language system is the next candidate to be involved in the pathogenesis of IUD.

Verbal Communication with the Patient Is Not Enough: The Six Languages of the Sick

“…Techno language. The symbol of today’s world is technology and mass media: the way the patient interacts with them tells us how the patient is integrated into their world [ 13 ]. The way they use them or how are themselves used, how they ignore them or become their slaves, how they seek them or fear them, are also forms of expression [ 14 ].…”