Altered Gray Matter Volume and White Matter Integrity in College Students with Mobile Phone Dependence.

Yongming Wang,Federico D’Oleire Uquillas,Zhiling Zou,Xiaodan Xu,Xiting Huang,Hongwen Song,Huijun Wang

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00597

Yongming Wang, Federico D’Oleire Uquillas + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00597

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Abstract

Mobile phone dependence (MPD) is a behavioral addiction that has become an increasing public mental health issue. While previous research has explored some of the factors that may predict MPD, the underlying neural mechanisms of MPD have not been investigated yet. The current study aimed to explore the microstructural variations associated with MPD as measured with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter (WM) integrity [four indices: fractional anisotropy (FA); mean diffusivity (MD); axial diffusivity (AD); and radial diffusivity (RD)] were calculated via voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis, respectively. Sixty-eight college students (42 female) were enrolled and separated into two groups [MPD group, N = 34; control group (CG), N = 34] based on Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI) scale score. Trait impulsivity was also measured using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). In light of underlying trait impulsivity, results revealed decreased GMV in the MPD group relative to controls in regions such as the right superior frontal gyrus (sFG), right inferior frontal gyrus (iFG), and bilateral thalamus (Thal). In the MPD group, GMV in the above mentioned regions was negatively correlated with scores on the MPAI. Results also showed significantly less FA and AD measures of WM integrity in the MPD group relative to controls in bilateral hippocampal cingulum bundle fibers (CgH). Additionally, in the MPD group, FA of the CgH was also negatively correlated with scores on the MPAI. These findings provide the first morphological evidence of altered brain structure with mobile phone overuse, and may help to better understand the neural mechanisms of MPD in relation to other behavioral and substance addiction disorders.

Highlights

As reported by eMarketer.com, the number of universal smartphone subscribers will reach 2,380 million in 2017, 672.1 million of which will be Chinese subscribers
BIS scores were significantly higher in the Mobile phone dependence (MPD) group as well, showing that MPD individuals had higher trait impulsivity relative to controls
Within the MPD group, Gray matter volume (GMV) of the right superior frontal gyrus (sFG), right inferior frontal gyrus (iFG) and Thal was negatively correlated with Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI) scores

Summary

Introduction

As reported by eMarketer.com, the number of universal smartphone subscribers will reach 2,380 million in 2017, 672.1 million of which will be Chinese subscribers. Smartphones have many attractive characteristics that help foment its prevalent use in modern life, for young adults It is an inexhaustible source of fun and relaxation, a highly effective instrument for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships, and Altered Brain Structure in MPD it is a convenient method for avoiding unpleasant mood states and ‘killing’ time (Choliz, 2010). Behavioral addiction refers to behaviors, besides psychoactive substance ingestion, that produce short-term feelings of reward and engender further persistent behavior despite knowledge of adverse consequences These behaviors include pathological gambling, skin picking, kleptomania, compulsive buying, and compulsive sexual behavior, to name a few (Grant et al, 2010). With the advent and growing ubiquitous use of technology such as television, computer gaming, and the Internet, a new subclass of behavioral addiction that is non-chemical in nature, technological addiction, has been characterized as the problematic excessive use of technology involving human–machine interaction (Griffiths, 1996)

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