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. 2022 Aug;52(11):2189-2197.
doi: 10.1017/S0033291722000137. Epub 2022 Feb 23.

Enhanced resting-state EEG source functional connectivity within the default mode and reward-salience networks in internet gaming disorder

Ji-Yoon Lee  1 , Chi-Hyun Choi  2 , Minkyung Park  1 , Sunyoung Park  2 , Jung-Seok Choi  1
Affiliations

Enhanced resting-state EEG source functional connectivity within the default mode and reward-salience networks in internet gaming disorder

Ji-Yoon Lee et al. Psychol Med. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Background: The two key mechanisms affected by internet gaming disorder (IGD) are cognitive and reward processing. Despite their significance, little is known about neurophysiological features as determined using resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) source functional connectivity (FC).

Methods: We compared resting-state EEG source FC within the default mode network (DMN) and reward/salience network (RSN) between patients with IGD and healthy controls (HCs) to identify neurophysiological markers associated with cognitive and reward processing. A total of 158 young male adults (79 patients with IGD and 79 HCs) were included, and the source FC of the DMN and RSN in five spectral bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma) were assessed.

Results: Patients with IGD showed increased theta, alpha, and beta connectivity within the DMN between the orbitofrontal cortex and parietal regions compared with HCs. In terms of RSN, patients with IGD exhibited elevated alpha and beta connectivity between the anterior cingulate gyrus and temporal regions compared with HCs. Furthermore, patients with IGD showed negative correlations between the severity of IGD symptoms and/or weekly gaming time and theta and alpha connectivity within the DMN and theta, alpha, and beta connectivity within the RSN. However, the duration of IGD was not associated with EEG source FC.

Conclusions: Hyper-connectivities within the DMN and RSN may be considered potential state markers associated with symptom severity and gaming time in IGD.

Keywords: Default mode network; electroencephalography; internet gaming disorder; reward-salience network; source connectivity.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Source connectivity within (a) default mode network (DMN) and (b) reward-salience network (RSN) in each frequency band. The red line represents increased connectivity in the Internet gaming disorder (IGD) group compared with healthy controls (HCs). OFC, orbitofrontal cortex; SMG, supramarginal gyrus; IPL, inferior parietal lobe; ACC, anterior cingulate gyrus; TL, temporal lobe; STG&SGTA, superior temporal gyrus & subcallosal gyrus-entorhinal area.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Correlations in the Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and healthy control (HC) groups. A. EEG source connectivity within default mode network (DMN). (a) Negative correlations between weekly gaming time (hours) and alpha source connectivity in the left orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and left postcentral gyrus (PCG; upper) and left OFC and left supramarginal gyrus (SMG; lower) in the IGD group. (b) There was no significant correlation between weekly gaming time and alpha source connectivity in the left OFC and left PCG (upper) and left OFC and left SMG (lower) in the HC group. B. EEG source connectivity within a reward-salience network (RSN). (a) Negative correlations between alpha source connectivity at the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACC) and right temporal lobe (TL) and scores on Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT; upper) weekly gaming time (lower) in the IGD group. (b) There was no significant correlation between alpha source connectivity at the ACC and TL and scores on IAT (upper) weekly gaming time (lower) in the HC group.
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