Diminished cognitive control in Internet gaming disorder: A multimodal approach with magnetic resonance imaging and real-time heart rate variability

Abstract

Objective: Recently, the addiction to online games, classified as Internet gaming disorder (IGD) on DSM-V, has emerged as an important mental health problem. The loss of control over gaming in IGD is associated with diminished cognitive control. This study aimed to link the neurobiological mechanism reflected by brain imaging and the diminished cognitive control reflected by heart rate variability (HRV) measurements during real-time gameplay.

Methods: HRV was assessed in 33 young males with IGD and 29 controls while playing their favorite games. Seed-based functional connectivity (FC) was evaluated in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and dorsal striatum. Associations between HRV and alterations in FC were tested.

Results: Individuals with IGD showed a reduction of high-frequency HRV during real-time gaming, which is correlated with self-reported severity of IGD. Subjects with IGD showed decreased FC between the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the right inferior frontal gyrus, corresponding to the cognitive control network. They showed decreased FC between the right anterior cingulate cortex and the superior parietal lobule. They also showed increased FC between the left dorsal putamen and the postcentral gyrus, corresponding to the sensorimotor network. Game-related high-frequency HRV was correlated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-inferior frontal gyrus connectivity.

Conclusion: The diminished cognitive control reflected by HRV measurements during real-time gameplay was associated with FC alterations, involving a weak FC in the cognitive control network. Individuals with IGD may have less cognitive control, particularly when playing games, and consequently end up playing games in a habitual manner rather than in a goal-oriented manner.