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Functional MRI of inhibitory control processing in problematic mobile video gamers
Xi Shen1, Zhengji Li2, Jiarong Sheng1
1Center for Mental Health Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
Psychiatry Research
|May 6, 2023
Summary
Problematic mobile video gamers show heightened brain activity in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during inhibitory tasks. This increased neural activity may compensate for impaired inhibitory control, correlating negatively with reward sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Digital Health
Background:
- Mobile video games offer convenient entertainment but can lead to problematic usage.
- Problematic mobile video game (PMVG) use is a growing concern with unknown neurobiological impacts.
- Previous research links Internet gaming disorder to impaired inhibitory control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurobiological differences in inhibitory control between PMVG users and healthy controls (HC).
- To identify the neural correlates of inhibitory control in individuals with problematic mobile video gaming habits.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) Stroop task.
- Compared brain activity patterns during inhibitory tasks in PMVG and HC groups.
- Conducted correlation analysis between brain activity and reward sensitivity.
Main Results:
- PMVG group exhibited greater activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) compared to the HC group.
- Brain activity in the DLPFC cluster showed a significant negative correlation with reward sensitivity in PMVG users.
- These findings suggest a compensatory neural mechanism in the DLPFC for inhibitory control in PMVG.
Conclusions:
- Problematic mobile video gaming is associated with distinct neural activity patterns in brain regions critical for inhibitory control.
- The DLPFC may play a compensatory role in individuals with PMVG, potentially mitigating deficits in inhibitory control.
- Understanding these neurobiological underpinnings is crucial for developing targeted interventions for problematic gaming behaviors.
