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Graph analysis of diffusion tensor imaging-based connectome in young men with internet gaming disorder
Jiaolong Qin1,2, Shuai Wang3,4, Huangjing Ni5
1PCA Lab, Key Lab of Intelligent Perception and Systems for High-Dimensional Information of Ministry of Education, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|February 17, 2023
Summary
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is linked to altered brain connectivity, particularly in cortico-limbic-striatal networks. These changes in white matter structure correlate with addiction severity, offering insights into IGD
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is increasingly recognized, yet its underlying neuroanatomical alterations are not fully understood.
- Existing research suggests dysfunctional brain organization in individuals with IGD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter (WM) structural connectome alterations in young men with IGD using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
- To explore the association between these neuroanatomical changes and IGD severity.
Main Methods:
- Employed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) on 47 young men with IGD and 34 healthy controls.
- Utilized network-based statistics (NBS) and graph theoretical measures to analyze WM structural connectivity.
- Correlated network alterations with Internet Addiction Test (IAT) scores.
Main Results:
- Network-based statistics revealed widespread alterations in cortico-limbic-striatal structural connectivity networks in the IGD group.
- Identified an increased subnet (subnet1) involving the insula and sensory/motor regions, and decreased subnets (subnet2, subnet3) including the insula, striatum, and limbic areas.
- Found a significant positive association between the connectivity strength of subnet1 and IAT scores in individuals with IGD.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights significant alterations in WM structural connectivity within the cortico-limbic-striatal network in individuals with IGD.
- These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying IGD.
- The identified network alterations and their correlation with addiction severity offer potential targets for future interventions.
