Frontiers in Neuroscience (Nov 2019)

Diminished Frontal Theta Activity During Gaming in Young Adults With Internet Gaming Disorder

  • Juri Kim,
  • Jinsick Park,
  • Young Min Park,
  • DongPyo Jang,
  • Kee Namkoong,
  • Kee Namkoong,
  • Young-Chul Jung,
  • Young-Chul Jung,
  • In Young Kim

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01183
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Cognitive control is essential for flexible, top-down, goal-directed behavior. Individuals with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) are characterized by impaired prefrontal cortex function and cognitive control. This results in an increase in stimulus-driven habitual behavior, particularly related to pathological gaming. In the present study, we investigated the electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in individuals with IGD. Twenty-four individuals with IGD and 35 healthy control (HC) subjects were recruited. We analyzed their EEG activity while the subjects played their favorite game (30–40 min duration). We compared the band power between the two groups. During gaming, the left frontal theta, alpha, and beta band activities were lower in subjects with IGD than in HCs. Moreover, the left frontal theta power negatively correlated with IGD severity. These results indicate that left frontal theta power could be used as a neurophysiological biomarker for the detection of diminished cognitive control patterns in individuals with IGD.

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