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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Online Gamers
Published on: November 9, 2019
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Transcranial direct current stimulation for online gamers: A prospective single-arm feasibility study
Sang Hoon Lee1, Jooyeon Jamie Im2, Jin Kyoung Oh2
11 Department of Radiology, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea , Seoul, South Korea.
Journal of Behavioral Addictions
|November 13, 2018
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may reduce excessive online gaming. This pilot study found tDCS improved self-control and brain metabolism, decreasing gaming time and addiction severity in gamers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Excessive online gaming negatively impacts mental health and daily functioning.
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is explored for addiction treatment but not yet for excessive online gaming.
- The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a key area implicated in impulse control and addiction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility and tolerability of tDCS in individuals with excessive online game use.
- To assess the effects of tDCS on gaming behavior, self-control, and brain metabolism in gamers.
- To explore tDCS as a potential intervention for problematic online gaming.
Main Methods:
- 15 online gamers received 12 active tDCS sessions targeting the DLPFC over 4 weeks.
- Assessments included 18F-FDG PET scans, Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Brief Self Control Scale (BSCS), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).
- tDCS parameters: anodal left/cathodal right, 2 mA for 30 min, 3 times/week.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in weekly gaming hours (p=.02), IAT scores (p<.001), and BDI-II scores (p=.01).
- Significant increase in BSCS scores (p=.01), indicating enhanced self-control.
- Improvements in self-control correlated with reduced addiction severity and gaming time (p<.002).
- Partial alleviation of abnormal right-greater-than-left glucose metabolism asymmetry in the DLPFC (p=.04).
Conclusions:
- tDCS shows promise in reducing excessive online gaming by enhancing self-control and improving DLPFC metabolic balance.
- Preliminary findings suggest tDCS is a feasible and tolerable intervention for problematic gamers.
- Larger, sham-controlled trials are needed to confirm tDCS efficacy for excessive online gaming.
Keywords:
dorsolateral prefrontal cortexonline gamepositron emission tomographyregional cerebral metabolic rate of glucoseself-controltranscranial direct current stimulationMore Related Videos
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