Altered regional cerebral glucose metabolism in internet game overusers: A 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography study

Hyun Soo Park, Sang Hee Kim, Seong Ae Bang, Eun Jin Yoon, Sang Soo Cho, Sang Eun Kim

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    94 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Introduction: Internet game overuse is an emerging disorder and features diminished impulse control and poor reward-processing. In an attempt to understand the neurobiological bases of Internet game overuse, we investigated the differences in regional cerebral glucose metabolism at resting state between young individuals with Internet game overuse and those with normal use using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography study. Methods: Twenty right-handed male participants (9 normal users: 24.7±2.4 years of age, 11 overusers: 23.5±2.9 years of age) participated. A trait measure of impulsivity was also completed after scanning. Results: Internet game overusers showed greater impulsiveness than the normal users and there was a positive correlation between the severity of Internet game overuse and impulsiveness. Imaging data showed that the overusers had increased glucose metabolism in the right middle orbitofrontal gyrus, left cauate nucleus, and right insula, and decreased metabolism in the bilateral postcentral gyrus, left precentral gyrus, and bilateral occipital regions compared to normal users. Conclusion: Internet game overuse may be associated with abnormal neurobiological mechanisms in the orbitofrontal cortex, striatum, and sensory regions, which are implicated in impulse control, reward processing, and somatic representation of previous experiences. Our results support the idea that Internet game overuse shares psychological and neural mechanisms with other types of impulse control disorders and substance/non-substance-related addiction.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)159-166
    Number of pages8
    JournalCNS Spectrums
    Volume15
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010 Mar

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Clinical Neurology
    • Psychiatry and Mental health

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Altered regional cerebral glucose metabolism in internet game overusers: A 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this