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Neurobiological findings related to I nternet use disorders
Author(s) -
Park Byeongsu,
Han Doug Hyun,
Roh Sungwon
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.12422
Subject(s) - orbitofrontal cortex , dorsolateral prefrontal cortex , psychology , anterior cingulate cortex , neuroscience , functional magnetic resonance imaging , addiction , positron emission tomography , prefrontal cortex , cognition , psychiatry
In the last 10 years, numerous neurobiological studies have been conducted on I nternet addiction or I nternet use disorder. Various neurobiological research methods – such as magnetic resonance imaging; nuclear imaging modalities, including positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography; molecular genetics; and neurophysiologic methods – have made it possible to discover structural or functional impairments in the brains of individuals with I nternet use disorder. Specifically, I nternet use disorder is associated with structural or functional impairment in the orbitofrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex. These regions are associated with the processing of reward, motivation, memory, and cognitive control. Early neurobiological research results in this area indicated that I nternet use disorder shares many similarities with substance use disorders, including, to a certain extent, a shared pathophysiology. However, recent studies suggest that differences in biological and psychological markers exist between I nternet use disorder and substance use disorders. Further research is required for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of I nternet use disorder.