TY - JOUR
T1 - Neurobiological mechanisms underlying internet gaming disorder
AU - Weinstein, Aviv
AU - Lejoyeux, Michel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - This review summarizes studies on the neurobiological correlates of internet gaming disorder (IGD), presently the most direct approach to analyzing the impact of digital technology and the internet on brain mechanisms. Brain imaging studies have shown that IGD shares, to a large extent, neurobiological alterations that are typical for other addictions, such as: (i) activation in brain regions associated with reward, as evident from cue exposure and craving studies and neurotransmitter systems studies that indicate an involvement of dopamine-mediated reward mechanisms; (ii) reduced activity in impulse control areas and impaired decision making; and (iii) reduced functional connectivity in brain networks that are involved in cognitive control, executive function, motivation, and reward. Moreover, there are structural changes, mainly reduction in gray-matter volume and white-matter density. Comorbidity studies indicate that executive control networks in attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may increase the susceptibility to develop IGD. Most importantly, this review also outlines findings that show the effects of excessive use of screens, here referring to the playing of computer games, which activate many brain regions associated with cognitive, motor, and sensory function and not directly involved in other forms of addiction. This review describes and summarizes comprehensively the neurobiological correlates of addictive internet use in adolescents and young adults.
AB - This review summarizes studies on the neurobiological correlates of internet gaming disorder (IGD), presently the most direct approach to analyzing the impact of digital technology and the internet on brain mechanisms. Brain imaging studies have shown that IGD shares, to a large extent, neurobiological alterations that are typical for other addictions, such as: (i) activation in brain regions associated with reward, as evident from cue exposure and craving studies and neurotransmitter systems studies that indicate an involvement of dopamine-mediated reward mechanisms; (ii) reduced activity in impulse control areas and impaired decision making; and (iii) reduced functional connectivity in brain networks that are involved in cognitive control, executive function, motivation, and reward. Moreover, there are structural changes, mainly reduction in gray-matter volume and white-matter density. Comorbidity studies indicate that executive control networks in attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may increase the susceptibility to develop IGD. Most importantly, this review also outlines findings that show the effects of excessive use of screens, here referring to the playing of computer games, which activate many brain regions associated with cognitive, motor, and sensory function and not directly involved in other forms of addiction. This review describes and summarizes comprehensively the neurobiological correlates of addictive internet use in adolescents and young adults.
KW - Brain imaging
KW - Control inhibition
KW - Cue reactivity
KW - Decision making
KW - FMRI
KW - Internet gaming disorder
KW - Reward
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088429689&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/aweinstein
DO - 10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/aweinstein
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C2 - 32699511
AN - SCOPUS:85088429689
SN - 1294-8322
VL - 22
SP - 113
EP - 126
JO - Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience
JF - Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience
IS - 2
ER -