Structural gray matter differences in Problematic Usage of the Internet: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) has been linked to diverse structural gray matter changes in individual data studies. However, no quantitative synthesis across studies has been conducted. We aimed to identify gray matter regions showing significant spatial convergence across neuroimaging studies in PUI. We searched PubMed and PsycINFO up to 10/03/2021 and included original, cross-sectional comparative studies that examined structural gray matter imaging in PUI versus control groups; reported a whole-brain analysis; and provided peak coordinates for gray matter differences. From a total of 624 potentially relevant studies, 15 (including 355 individuals with PUI and 363 controls) were included in a meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry studies. Anatomical likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis was performed using extracted coordinates and identified significant spatial convergence in the medial/superior frontal gyri, the left anterior cingulate cortex/cingulate gyrus, and the left middle frontal/precentral gyri. Datasets contributing to these findings all indicated reduced gray matter in cases compared to controls. In conclusion, voxel-based morphometric studies indicate replicable gray matter reductions in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex in PUI, regions implicated in reward processing and top-down inhibitory control. Further studies are required to understand the nature of gray matter differences across PUI behaviors, as well as the contribution of particular mental health disorders, and the influence of variation in study and sample characteristics.

Enhanced resting-state EEG source functional connectivity within the default mode and reward-salience networks in internet gaming disorder

“…Those addicted to gaming have poorer response inhibition, working memory, decision-making, and emotion regulation, which is associated with reduced prefrontal cortex functioning (Kuss, Pontes, & Griffiths, 2018 ). Recent meta-analysis studies have found that people with problematic internet usage (PIU) have cognitive impairments including motor inhibitory control, working memory, and decision-making and decreased gray matter in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex, which are implicated in reward processing, decision making and top-down inhibitory control (Ioannidis et al, 2019 ; Solly, Hook, Grant, Cortese, & Chamberlain, 2021 ). Increased EEG FC in the alpha and beta frequency bands within the right hemisphere may be involved in the recurrent activation of visuospatial working memory and executive function due to excessive gaming (Burleigh, Griffiths, Sumich, Wang, & Kuss, 2020 ).…”

Pharmacological interventions for Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI): a narrative review of current progress and future directions

“…PubMed and PsycINFO were searched up to 2 nd May 2022 using the following string, adapted from previous meta-analyses related to PUI [ 13 , 14 ]: (“drug” OR “medication*” OR “pharmacol*”) AND (“internet use” OR “internet addiction” OR “smartphone use” OR “smartphone addiction” OR “gaming addiction” OR “internet gaming disorder” OR “PIU” OR “PUI”). Terms related to “smartphone” addiction were used to ensure that the search included studies relevant to Internet use regardless of modality, while those related to “gaming” addiction were used to ensure IGD studies were included, as much of the available PUI literature focuses on this field.…”

Structural and Functional Neural Correlates in Individuals with Excessive Smartphone Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Previous studies mainly addressed issues surrounding internet addiction [ 8 ] without focusing on the use of smartphones, which have become an indispensable communicating device in over 83% of the global population [ 8 ]. Although a previous meta-analysis has reported a reduction in gray matter volume (GMV) as well as significant activations in the medial/superior frontal gyri, the left anterior cingulate cortex/cingulate gyrus, and the left middle frontal/precentral gyri in individuals with internet addiction [ 9 ], the structural and functional impacts of excessive smartphone use on the central nervous system remains unclear. Therefore, the current meta-analysis aimed at investigating the difference in structural volume and functional connectivity between individuals with excessive smartphone use and their comparators with regular use.…”

“…Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most popular assessment tool for macroscopic neuroanatomical assessment of the brain (e.g., brain volume measurement) because of its excellent image resolution and quality of between-tissue contrast [ 10 ]. Consistently, MRI has been used to examine anatomic differences (e.g., gray matter volume) among individuals with behavioral addiction [ 9 , 11 ]. MRI systems of different magnetic strengths have their distinct merits in MRI acquisition.…”