Monetary Reward Discounting, Inhibitory Control, and Trait Impulsivity in Young Adults With Internet Gaming Disorder and Nicotine Dependence

Abstract

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been considered a potential behavioral or non-substance addiction that requires further investigation. Recognition of the commonalities between IGD and Substance Use disorders (SUD) would be of great help to better understand the basic mechanisms of addictive behaviors and excessive Internet gaming. However, little research has targeted a straightforward contrast between IGD and SUD on neuropsychological aspects. The present study thus aimed to explore the associations of reward processing and inhibitory control with IGD and nicotine dependence (ND) in young adults. Fifty-eight IGD and 53 ND individuals, as well as 57 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, were assessed with a series of measurements including the Delay-discounting Test (DDT), Probability Discounting Test (PDT), the Stroop Color-Word Task, a revised Go/No Go Task, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Multivariate analysis of variance (mANOVA) models revealed that both IGD and ND groups scored higher than healthy controls on the BIS-11 attentional, motor, and non-planning impulsiveness (Cohen's d = 0.41–1.75). Higher degrees of delay discounting on the DDT were also found in IGD and ND groups compared to healthy controls (Cohen's d = 0.53–0.69). Although IGD group did not differ from healthy controls on the PDT, ND group had a lower degree of probability discounting than healthy controls (Cohen's d = 0.55), suggesting a reduction in risk aversion. Furthermore, ND subjects showed a lower correct accuracy in the incongruent trials of the Stroop task than healthy controls (Cohen's d = 0.61). On the Go/No Go task, both IGD and ND groups had a lower correct accuracy in the No-Go trials than healthy controls (Cohen's d = 1.35–1.50), indicating compromised response inhibition. These findings suggested that IGD was linked to both anomalous reward discounting and dysfunctional inhibitory control, which was comparable with one typical SUD category (i.e., ND). This study might promote a better understanding of the pathogenesis of IGD as a potential addictive disorder similar to SUD.

Predictors of Gaming Disorder or Protective from It, in a French Sample: A Symptomatic Approach to Self-Regulation and Pursued Rewards, Providing Insights for Clinical Practice

“…It is important to weigh this information, particularly on attention and the tendency to act quickly, having in mind that video games are well known to improve certain cognitive functions including attention, spatial cognition and response time [ 68 , 69 , 70 ]. These results are consistent with those of previous studies that used a different measure of impulsivity but found a higher proportion of dysfunctional gamblers to act recklessly, particularly in response to negative affect [ 21 ], and more specifically to show both abnormalities in reward systems and inhibitory control [ 65 ].…”

“…Since pretty much all facets of impulsivity have correlated to each criterion of the DAS, we will focus on the results of the logistic regression, which takes into account the other variables in the model. These links between impulsivity assessed by the BIS-10 and the severity of dysfunctional gaming have been previously reported [ 9 , 64 , 65 ]. Regarding attentional impulsivity, which reflects difficulty maintaining attention to relevant details [ 66 ], it predicted significantly negative consequences.…”

Executive Functions and Problematic Internet Use among University Students: The Mediator Role of Self-Esteem

“…Years later, Young defined problematic internet use as the inability of some people to control their own internet use, leading to disruption and impairment of their work, social and personal commitments [3]. Since then, several studies have been concerned with analyzing which variables may determine problematic Internet use [4][5][6].…”

“…Although there are numerous studies related to problematic Internet use, there is little empirical research based on studying the relationship between problematic use and executive functions [16]. Despite this, some studies have established a relationship between problematic Internet use and the presence of a deficit in inhibitory control, especially in relation to online gaming addiction [5,6,17]. In other words, a significant relationship has been observed between problematic Internet use, highlighting deficient self-regulation due to compulsive Internet use, and inhibition, establishing that the greater the daily use of the Internet, the lesser the capacity to manage inhibitory control [18][19][20].…”

The Influence of Online Game Behaviors on the Emotional State and Executive Function of College Students in China

“…Moreover, executive function can prevent the development of addiction by inhibiting impulsive and controlling behaviors, whilst degradation of executive function leads to an increase in impulsive behaviors and addiction development ( 16 ). Meanwhile, excessive online gaming could be detrimental to executive function, consequently spiraling without control and leading to impulsive behaviors ( 17 ). In essence, executive function plays a key role in IGA mitigation and mental health.…”