Neurophysiological Markers of Internet Gaming Disorder: A Literature Review of Electroencephalography Studies

Abstract

Pathological online gaming is a relatively newer psychiatric disorder. It is the second behavioral addiction (after internet gambling disorder) included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders (DSM), 5 th edition as "Internet Gaming Disorder" (IGD). Recent research is showing high morbidity associated with IGD, thus encouraging researchers to find valid and reliable biomarkers of IGD. So that, early diagnosis and proper treatment could limit the high disability level accompanying excessive online gaming. As electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive and relatively easily available diagnostic technique, we aimed at collecting EEG studies that investigated EEG changes associated with IGD, with a specific focus on finding diagnostic and predictive neurophysiological biomarkers of IGD. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for EEG studies of IGD. We eliminated those EEG studies that were not focused on finding biomarkers. Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) is followed in the writing of this review article. Our results showed that increased slow-wave resting-state activity and reduced P300 and N100 can serve as useful IGD diagnostic markers of IGD. Moreover, increased resting-state theta activity can be a predictive biomarker of IGD. Lastly, increased late low potentials (LLPs) can be specific trait markers of cue-induced cravings in IGD.

Neural Network Dynamics and Brain Oscillations Underlying Aberrant Inhibitory Control in Internet Addiction

“…In contrast, decreased frontal-paracentral and parietal-temporal connections in participants with IA have been reported after the first 500 ms of stop signals in the beta frequency band. Echoing previous studies, our findings demonstrate the possibility of using EEG signals as neurophysiological markers for Internet addiction [57].…”

“…However, it is worth mentioning that the significance of Stop-P3 between the two groups diminished after taking age factor as a covariate in the present study. Although many studies claim the possibility of using P300 as a neurophysiological biomarker for IA [57], our results suggest that the age factor may be another parameter that affects the amplitude of P300 and should be controlled with caution.…”

Neuroimaging Correlates of Internet Gaming Disorder: Can We Achieve the Promise of Translating Understanding of Brain Functioning Into Clinical Advances?

“…They also observed a different pattern of activity in individuals with internet addiction (higher gamma activity and reduced delta and beta activity), which suggests that these are 2 independent constructs. Similarly, Kashif et al, 32 in their review, suggested that several valuable predictive neurophysiological biomarkers of IGD have been identified through EEG: (a) increased resting-state slow-wave activity (beta and theta); (b) increased resting-state theta activity; (c) low absolute beta power; and (d) increased intrahemispheric fastfrequency coherence.…”

Independent component analysis for internet gaming disorder

“…The exploration of neural correlates or biomarkers (understood as any structure, process, or substance that can be measured objectively) is important in IGD due to the increasing prevalence of, and morbidity related to, IGD (Strimbu and Tavel 2010 ; Kashif et al. 2021 ). The identification of biomarkers could facilitate improved understanding that could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for IGD (Kashif et al.…”

“…The identification of biomarkers could facilitate improved understanding that could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for IGD (Kashif et al. 2021 ). In the present review, the main findings of these studies using ICA will be discussed ( Table 1 ), taking into account three main brain connectivity networks: the default-mode network (DMN), the executive-control network (ECN) and the salience network (SN).…”