Network diffusion modeling predicts spatiotemporal gray matter alterations in internet gaming disorder

Recent research indicates that neuropathological alterations may propagate via brain networks, as illustrated by network diffusion models (NDMs). The application of NDM to internet gaming disorder (IGD) has yet to be evaluated. This study was set to identify possible epicenters of neuroanatomical alterations using NDM in IGD.

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were obtained from 288 IGD participants and 165 matched recreational game users. Gray matter volume (GMV) was computed through CAT12 and segmented according to the Brainnetome Atlas. NMD was utilized to simulate the propagation of pathology. We initiated diffusion from each location to pinpoint probable epicenters of GMV alterations in IGD and correlated eigenmodes of the Laplacian matrix with observed atrophy and expansion patterns.

Abnormal brain regions with altered GMV were observed in IGD. Specifically, IGD demonstrated a great loss in GMV in the caudal cuneus gyrus, precentral and postcentral gyrus, as well as the cingulate cortex while simultaneously exhibiting an increase in the amygdala. The pallidus and putamen showed positive correlations with gaming craving. Both the right cingulate gyrus and the left amygdala were identified by the model as significant epicenters of disease dissemination.

The results suggest that gray matter morphological abnormalities can predict temporal sequencing of pathology progression in IGD. Subcortical gray matter volume increases in reward-processing-related regions were positively correlated with gaming craving severity in IGD, consistent with altered reward processing and motivational drive in addiction models.