Altered functional network activities for behavioral adjustments and Bayesian learning in young men with Internet...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Cognitive control deficits are central to addiction, including Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD).
• IGD provides a unique model to study addiction-related cognitive deficits without substance use confounds.
• Previous research identified reactive control deficits in IGD, but proactive control and learning-based adjustment remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate proactive control and behavioral adjustment in individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD).
• To examine functional brain network differences during post-error slowing and response to changing contextual probabilities in IGD.

Main Methods:

• fMRI data from 21 young adults with IGD and 21 healthy controls (HC) during a stop-signal task.
• Group independent component analysis to assess functional network activity during post-error slowing.
• Bayesian belief modeling to quantify learning of stop-signal likelihood (P(Stop)) and associated network responses.

Main Results:

• Diminished fronto-parietal network engagement during post-error slowing in IGD.
• Reduced ventral attention and anterior default mode network activity in response to P(Stop) in IGD.
• Impaired ability to update and anticipate conflict and adjust behavior based on context.

Conclusions:

• IGD is associated with deficits in proactive cognitive control and adaptive behavioral adjustment.
• Neural underpinnings involve altered functional network activity related to conflict anticipation and context-based learning.
• Findings highlight the importance of studying proactive control and learning in addiction models like IGD.