Gender-related differences in involvement of addiction brain networks in internet gaming disorder: Relationships with craving and emotional regulation

• Published in: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry Vol. 118; p. 110574
• Main Authors: Wang, Zi-Liang, Song, Kun-Ru, Zhou, Nan, Potenza, Marc N., Zhang, Jin-Tao, Dong, Guang-Heng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 30.08.2022
• Subjects: Addiction brain networks; Behavior, Addictive - diagnostic imaging; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain Mapping - methods; Craving; Craving - physiology; Emotion regulation; Emotional Regulation; Female; Functional connectivity; Humans; Internet; Internet Addiction Disorder - diagnostic imaging; Internet gaming disorder; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Video Games; Functional connectivity; Internet gaming disorder; Addiction brain networks; Emotion regulation; Craving
• ISSN: 0278-5846; 1878-4216; 1878-4216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110574

Abnormal interactions among addiction brain networks associated with intoxication, negative affect, and anticipation may have relevance for internet gaming disorder (IGD). Despite prior studies having identified gender-related differences in the neural correlates of IGD, gender-related differences in the involvement of brain networks remain unclear. One-hundred-and-nine individuals with IGD (54 males) and 111 with recreational game use (RGU; 58 males) provided resting-state fMRI data. We examined gender-related differences in involvement of addiction brain networks in IGD versus RGU subjects. We further compared the strength between and within addiction brain networks and explored possible relationships between the strength of functional connectivities within and between addiction brain networks and several relevant behavioral measures. The addiction brain networks showed high correct classification rates in distinguishing IGD and RGU subjects in men and women. Male subjects with versus without IGD showed stronger functional connectivities between and within addiction brain networks. Moreover, the strength of the connectivity within the anticipation network in male IGD subjects was positively related to subjective craving. However, female subjects with versus without IGD showed decreased functional connections between and within addiction brain networks. The strength of connectivity between the anticipation and negative-affect brain networks in female IGD subjects was negatively related to maladaptive cognitive emotion-regulation strategies. Addiction brain networks have potential for distinguishing IGD and RGU individuals. Importantly, this study identified novel gender-related differences in brain-behavior relationships in IGD. These results help advance current neuroscientific theories of IGD and may inform gender-informed treatment strategies. •Identified novel gender-related brain mechanisms in IGD.•Behavioral measures/correlates differed between male and female IGD subjects.•Addiction brain networks have potential for distinguishing IGD and RGU individuals.