Neurobiological correlates of reactive aggression in young adults with internet gaming disorder
Background: Previous research has found a significant positive correlation between internet gaming disorder (IGD) and reactive aggression (RA), with excessive use of online games increasing aggression in subjects. However, the neural mechanisms underlying increased RA in IGD are unclear. This study...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Brain Research Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923024002673 |
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| author | Shijie Chen Hongwei Hong Yuhong Zhou Xinyu Huang Xuemei Gao |
| author_facet | Shijie Chen Hongwei Hong Yuhong Zhou Xinyu Huang Xuemei Gao |
| author_sort | Shijie Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Previous research has found a significant positive correlation between internet gaming disorder (IGD) and reactive aggression (RA), with excessive use of online games increasing aggression in subjects. However, the neural mechanisms underlying increased RA in IGD are unclear. This study explores the neurobiological underpinnings of reactive aggression in young adults with IGD. Method: This case-control study included 84 young adults, comprised of 23 subjects with IGD, 24 at-risk participants, and 37 healthy controls. Employing T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was conducted to evaluate the gray matter volume (GMV) changes among groups, and the partial correlations between GMV alterations and RA score were investigated. Finally, mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether GMV alterations could modulate the relationship between IGD degree and RA score. Results: Compared with controls, the IGD group showed significantly increased GMV in the middle frontal gyrus (MFG), parahippocampal gyrus and significantly decreased GMV in the right median cingulate and paracingulate gyri (DCG), while the at-risk group showed significantly increased GMV in the left MFG. In addition, the RA score showed a significant negative correlation (r=-0.301, p=0.006) with the mean GMV of the right DCG. Furthermore, the mean GMV of the right DCG significantly mediated the correlation between degrees of IGD and RA score, and the effect size for this mediation effect was 22.8 %. Conclusion: Our findings provide potential early risk biomarkers for IGD and enhance our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms linking RA to IGD, thus facilitating several potential avenues for therapeutic intervention. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8f6ff76e24ee477c9580c9b3726684d6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1873-2747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Research Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f6ff76e24ee477c9580c9b3726684d62025-01-10T04:36:54ZengElsevierBrain Research Bulletin1873-27472025-01-01220111133Neurobiological correlates of reactive aggression in young adults with internet gaming disorderShijie Chen0Hongwei Hong1Yuhong Zhou2Xinyu Huang3Xuemei Gao4Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, ChinaFaculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, ChinaFaculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, ChinaFaculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, ChinaFaculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Correspondence to: Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, No.2 Tiansheng Street, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.Background: Previous research has found a significant positive correlation between internet gaming disorder (IGD) and reactive aggression (RA), with excessive use of online games increasing aggression in subjects. However, the neural mechanisms underlying increased RA in IGD are unclear. This study explores the neurobiological underpinnings of reactive aggression in young adults with IGD. Method: This case-control study included 84 young adults, comprised of 23 subjects with IGD, 24 at-risk participants, and 37 healthy controls. Employing T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was conducted to evaluate the gray matter volume (GMV) changes among groups, and the partial correlations between GMV alterations and RA score were investigated. Finally, mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether GMV alterations could modulate the relationship between IGD degree and RA score. Results: Compared with controls, the IGD group showed significantly increased GMV in the middle frontal gyrus (MFG), parahippocampal gyrus and significantly decreased GMV in the right median cingulate and paracingulate gyri (DCG), while the at-risk group showed significantly increased GMV in the left MFG. In addition, the RA score showed a significant negative correlation (r=-0.301, p=0.006) with the mean GMV of the right DCG. Furthermore, the mean GMV of the right DCG significantly mediated the correlation between degrees of IGD and RA score, and the effect size for this mediation effect was 22.8 %. Conclusion: Our findings provide potential early risk biomarkers for IGD and enhance our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms linking RA to IGD, thus facilitating several potential avenues for therapeutic intervention.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923024002673Internet gaming disorderReactive aggressionGray matter volume changes |
| spellingShingle | Shijie Chen Hongwei Hong Yuhong Zhou Xinyu Huang Xuemei Gao Neurobiological correlates of reactive aggression in young adults with internet gaming disorder Brain Research Bulletin Internet gaming disorder Reactive aggression Gray matter volume changes |
| title | Neurobiological correlates of reactive aggression in young adults with internet gaming disorder |
| title_full | Neurobiological correlates of reactive aggression in young adults with internet gaming disorder |
| title_fullStr | Neurobiological correlates of reactive aggression in young adults with internet gaming disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neurobiological correlates of reactive aggression in young adults with internet gaming disorder |
| title_short | Neurobiological correlates of reactive aggression in young adults with internet gaming disorder |
| title_sort | neurobiological correlates of reactive aggression in young adults with internet gaming disorder |
| topic | Internet gaming disorder Reactive aggression Gray matter volume changes |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923024002673 |
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