Gaming Increases Craving to Gaming-Related Stimuli in Individuals With Internet Gaming Disorder

Mar 22, 2018Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging

Gaming Increases Craving for Game-Related Cues in People with Internet Gaming Disorder

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Abstract

Gaming was associated with increased craving and brain activation in individuals with Internet gaming disorder (IGD).

Individuals with IGD exhibited heightened craving responses after gaming compared to before.
Increased brain activation was observed in regions including the lateral and prefrontal cortex, striatum, and precuneus in IGD subjects when exposed to gaming-related stimuli.
No significant changes in craving or brain activity were noted in individuals with recreational game use (RGU) after gaming.
These findings may highlight differences in how gaming impacts those with IGD versus recreational gamers.

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BACKGROUND: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been proposed as a behavioral addiction warranting additional investigation. Craving is considered a core component of addictions. However, few studies to date have investigated craving in IGD. In the current study, we investigated how gaming was associated with changes in response to gaming-related stimuli in subjects with IGD and those with recreational game use (RGU).

METHODS: Behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 27 individuals with IGD and 43 individuals with RGU. Subjects' craving responses to gaming-related stimuli were measured before and after 30 minutes of gaming.

RESULTS: The comparison between post- and pregaming measures showed that for IGD, gaming was associated with increased craving and increased brain activation of the lateral and prefrontal cortex, the striatum, and the precuneus when exposed to gaming-related stimuli. In individuals with RGU, no enhanced brain activity was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that gaming behavior enhances craving responses in subjects with IGD but not in subjects with RGU, provide insight into potential mechanisms underlying IGD, and suggest behavioral and neurobiological targets for IGD-related interventions.

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Gaming Increases Craving to Gaming-Related Stimuli in Individuals With Internet Gaming Disorder

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