Similarities and differences between internet gaming disorder and tobacco use disorder: A large‐scale network study

Abstract

Studies have shown that internet gaming disorder (IGD) has the potential to be a type of addiction; however, direct comparisons (similarities and differences) between IGD and traditional addictions remain scarce, especially at the neuroimaging level.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected from 92 individuals with IGD, 96 individuals with tobacco use disorders (TUDs) and 107 individuals who served as healthy controls (HCs). Independent component analysis (ICA) was performed to explore the similarities and differences among these three groups; Granger causality analysis (GCA) was further performed based on the ICA results to determine potential neural features underlying the differences and similarities among the groups. The ICA results indicated significant differences in the subcortical network and cerebellar network. GCA results found that significant differences in bilateral caudate among three groups, and the efferents of dorsal frontostriatal circuit showed significant differences in insula among three groups, whereas efferents of ventral frontostriatal circuit showed significant differences in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Two kinds of addiction showed differences in thalamus and frontostriatal circuits, and similar changes found in cerebellum and mPFC regions. It suggested that addiction disorders have psychopathology features, and the craving and reward dysfunctions may be the key reasons. Although both substance addiction and behaviour addiction showed craving dysfunction in cerebellum, however, the key reward dysfunction of substance addiction was found in subcortical regions, whereas behaviour addiction located in cortical regions.

Effects of bilateral tDCS over DLPFC on response inhibition, craving, and brain functional connectivity in Internet gaming disorder: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial with fMRI

“…Since the American Psychiatric Association included Internet gaming disorder (IGD) in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) ( American Psychiatric Association, 2013 ), the World Health Organization classified gaming disorder as an addictive disorder in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11) ( World Health Organization, 2019 ). These changes reflect the growing scientific research findings that IGD is similar to substance-related and other addictive disorders in terms of neurobiological underpinnings, clinical characteristics, and treatment ( Choi et al., 2014 ; Zheng et al., 2022 ).…”

The role of the cerebellum in internet gaming disorder—A systematic review

“…32 Zheng et al investigated similarities and differences between male and female subjects with IGD (n = 92) or tobacco use disorder (n = 96) and controls (n = 107). 38 The authors performed independent component analysis and defined several resting state networks of brain regions that are anatomically separated but functionally linked and show high continuous functional connectivity during resting state. Nine networks were derived: subcortical, auditory, sensorimotor, cerebellar, visual, salience, default mode, attention and executive network.…”

Wanting-liking dissociation and altered dopaminergic functioning: Similarities between internet gaming disorder and tobacco use disorder

“…IGD and to tobacco use disorder (TUD) participants have shown overlapping involvement of regions within a fronto-limbic network, particularly the parahippocampus, when exposed to gaming/smoking cues ( Ko et al., 2013 ). Other characteristics (e.g., personality features) appear similar across IGD and SUDs ( Fisoun, Floros, Siomos, Geroukalis, & Navridis, 2012 ; Y. B. Zheng et al., 2021 ).…”