Neurobiological Correlates in Internet Gaming Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is a potential mental disorder currently included in the third section of the latest (fifth) edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a condition that requires additional research to be included in the main manual. Although research efforts in the area have increased, there is a continuing debate about the respective criteria to use as well as the status of the condition as mental health concern. Rather than using diagnostic criteria which are based on subjective symptom experience, the National Institute of Mental Health advocates the use of Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) which may support classifying mental disorders based on dimensions of observable behavior and neurobiological measures because mental disorders are viewed as biological disorders that involve brain circuits that implicate specific domains of cognition, emotion, and behavior. Consequently, IGD should be classified on its underlying neurobiology, as well as its subjective symptom experience. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to review the neurobiological correlates involved in IGD based on the current literature base. Altogether, 853 studies on the neurobiological correlates were identified on ProQuest (in the following scholarly databases: ProQuest Psychology Journals, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, and ERIC) and on MEDLINE, with the application of the exclusion criteria resulting in reviewing a total of 27 studies, using fMRI, rsfMRI, VBM, PET, and EEG methods. The results indicate there are significant neurobiological differences between healthy controls and individuals with IGD. The included studies suggest that compared to healthy controls, gaming addicts have poorer response-inhibition and emotion regulation, impaired prefrontal cortex (PFC) functioning and cognitive control, poorer working memory and decision-making capabilities, decreased visual and auditory functioning, and a deficiency in their neuronal reward system, similar to those found in individuals with substance-related addictions. This suggests both substance-related addictions and behavioral addictions share common predisposing factors and may be part of an addiction syndrome. Future research should focus on replicating the reported findings in different cultural contexts, in support of a neurobiological basis of classifying IGD and related disorders.

Measurement invariance across young adults from Hong Kong and Taiwan among three internet-related addiction scales: Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS), and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS-SF9) (Study Part A)

“…Despite these different terminologies used, internet-related disorders have received growing research interest and require further investigation. Indeed, many studies have explored internet-related addiction from different aspects, such as epidemiological studies, comorbidity studies, neuroimaging studies, intervention and treatment studies (e.g., Kuss et al, 2014;Kuss, Pontes & Griffiths, 2018;Shek & Leung, 2013;Shek & Yu, 2016).…”

How early media exposure may affect cognitive function: A review of results from observations in humans and experiments in mice

“…There is increasing evidence that, in its extreme, excessive media usage can also lead to behavioral addiction, This seems to be particularly the case for internet gaming. Studies examining the neuronal consequences of internet gaming disorder reported numerous significant changes (99,100), including alterations in resting-state EEG coherence (101), significant alterations in cortical thickness (102,103), altered functional connectivity in the default mode network (104,105), and significant associations with ADHD and other psychiatric disorders (106,107). As they now stand, these findings are correlational and cannot establish causation.…”

Test-Retest Measurement Invariance of the Nine-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale in Two Countries: A Preliminary Longitudinal Study

“…Overall, the rapid growth of OG has been interwoven with uncertainties about which populations are primarily engaged, and OG's effect on well being (Anderson et al 2017;Kuss and Griffiths 2012;Pontes et al 2017a;Stavropoulos et al 2018b). Despite OG having many positive psychosocial effects 1 beyond satisfying one's leisure needs Carras et al 2018;Jones et al 2014), for excessive gamers, psychosocial repercussions can be multiple, 2 compromising their concurrent and future adaptation (Anderson et al 2017;Beard et al 2017;Kuss and Griffiths 2012;Kuss et al 2017;Pontes et al 2017b;Kuss et al 2018;Stavropoulos et al 2018aStavropoulos et al , 2018bStavropoulos et al 2019). The extent and the significance of the excessive OG's negative repercussions have prompted questions and concerns regarding its classification as a distinct psychopathological entity and its inclusion in the broader category of addictive behaviors 3 (Kuss et al 2018;Hu et al 2018;Scerri et al 2018).…”