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Review
. 2014 Mar;3(1):12-20.
doi: 10.1556/JBA.3.2014.1.2. Epub 2014 Mar 24.

Is there a shared neurobiology between aggression and Internet addiction disorder?

Changtae Hahn  1 , Dai-Jin Kim  1
Affiliations
Review

Is there a shared neurobiology between aggression and Internet addiction disorder?

Changtae Hahn et al. J Behav Addict. 2014 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: Evidences indicate that Internet addiction disorder (IAD) has a higher risk of developing aggression and violent behavior. A few correlation studies between IAD and aggression have implicated a common biological mechanism. However, neurobiological approaches to IAD and aggression have not yet been studied.

Methods: A literature search for studies for Internet addiction disorder or aggression was performed in the PubMed database and we selected articles about neurobiology of IAD or aggression.

Results: This review includes (a) common neural substrates such as the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system between aggression and IAD; (b) common neuromodulators such as dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, opiate and nicotine between aggression and IAD.

Conclusions: Through reviewing the relevant literature, we suggested the possibility of common neurobiology between the two psychiatric phenomena and direction of research on aggression in IAD.

Keywords: Internet; addiction; aggression; neurobiology.

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