Molecular and Functional Imaging of Internet Addiction

Yunqi Zhu,Mei Tian,Hong Zhang

doi:10.1155/2015/378675

Abstract

Maladaptive use of the Internet results in Internet addiction (IA), which is associated with various negative consequences. Molecular and functional imaging techniques have been increasingly used for analysis of neurobiological changes and neurochemical correlates of IA. This review summarizes molecular and functional imaging findings on neurobiological mechanisms of IA, focusing on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear imaging modalities including positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). MRI studies demonstrate that structural changes in frontal cortex are associated with functional abnormalities in Internet addicted subjects. Nuclear imaging findings indicate that IA is associated with dysfunction of the brain dopaminergic systems. Abnormal dopamine regulation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) could underlie the enhanced motivational value and uncontrolled behavior over Internet overuse in addicted subjects. Further investigations are needed to determine specific changes in the Internet addictive brain, as well as their implications for behavior and cognition.

Highlights

Addiction to substances or activities can profoundly affect people’s health and sometimes lead to serious social problems [1,2,3]
Imaging results demonstrated that brain regions associated with executive function, for example, the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), insula cortex, and entorhinal cortex, showed decreased cortical thickness in Internet gaming disorder (IGD) subjects compared with controls (Figure 1)
Given the view that the OFC is implicated in the pathology of drug and behavioral addictions [25, 26], the authors suggest that Internet addiction (IA) shares similar neurobiological mechanism with other addictions

Summary

Introduction

Addiction to substances or activities can profoundly affect people’s health and sometimes lead to serious social problems [1,2,3]. Maladaptive use of the Internet can result in the development of a behavioral addiction, leading to significantly clinical impairment or distress [4]. Based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), Young initially developed a short eight-item questionnaire that assessed IA [8]. In employing these criteria, participants with five or more of the eight criteria presented during the past 6 months were classified as suffering from IA. The DSM-V describes IGD as a “persistent and recurrent use of the Internet to engage in games, often with other players, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress as indicated by five or more (criteria) in a 12-month period” [5]. We review recent molecular and functional imaging studies that have provided considerable insight into the neurobiological mechanisms of IA, focusing on MRI and PET imaging approaches

MRI Findings

Nuclear Imaging Findings

Conclusions and Future Perspectives