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Impaired decisional impulsivity in pathological videogamers
Michael A Irvine1, Yulia Worbe, Sorcha Bolton
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|October 23, 2013
Summary
Pathological gaming is linked to impaired decision-making and impulsivity, affecting task performance. Addressing decisional impulsivity may aid in therapeutic interventions for gaming disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Pathological gaming is an emerging and under-researched behavioral addiction.
- Impulsivity is a common trait in addiction disorders, prompting investigation in pathological gamers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate decisional and motor impulsivity subtypes in pathological gaming.
- To understand the relationship between impulsivity and gaming severity.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-two pathological gamers and matched healthy controls underwent tests for decisional impulsivity (Information Sampling Task, delay discounting) and motor impulsivity (Stop Signal Task, premature responding task).
- Stringent diagnostic criteria were applied, focusing on functional impairment.
Main Results:
- Pathological gamers exhibited impaired reflection impulsivity and made more impulsive choices, preferring immediate rewards.
- Gaming severity correlated with poorer decision-making and increased sampling error.
- Comorbid nicotine use was linked to premature responses; gaming patterns (hours played, game type) correlated with specific impulsivity measures.
Conclusions:
- Pathological gaming is associated with significant deficits in decisional impulsivity, impacting cognitive task performance.
- Decisional impulsivity represents a potential therapeutic target for managing pathological gaming.
