Approach bias modification reduces automatic gaming tendencies and enhances brain synchronization in internet gaming disorder

IF 3.7 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHIATRY

Journal of psychiatric research Pub Date : 2025-04-14 DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.04.012

Meiting Wei , Xin Luo , Jiejie Fu , Yi-Sheng Dong , Jiang Liu , Xuzhou Li , Guang-Heng Dong

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Automatic approaches to gaming-related cues are key factors in internet gaming disorder (IGD). Approach bias modification (ApBM) has been shown to reduce addictive behaviors, but its neurobiological effects remain poorly understood. This study examined changes in brain activities in the ‘natural’ state in IGD patients after ApBM.

Methods

Fifty-five (of 61) IGD patients were randomly assigned to the approach–avoidance task (AAT, n = 30) and sham-AAT (n = 25) groups. Participants completed the pre-test, five real/sham ApBM sessions, and the post-test. In the pre-and post-tests, fMRI data were collected while viewing gaming and neutral videos. Inter-subject correlation (ISC) and functional connectivity (FC) analyses were conducted to explore the ApBM-related changes.

Results

ANOVA of behavioral data revealed that ApBM significantly decreased the approach bias and addiction scores. The ISC analyses revealed increased synchronization in the paracentral lobule, precuneus, and insula regions in the ATT group after ApBM. Additionally, decreased FC was observed between the insula and superior frontal gyrus, precuneus, and orbitofrontal cortex in the AAT group.

Conclusions

Preliminary findings suggest that ApBM may be effective in reducing automatic approach tendencies toward gaming cues, highlighting its potential as an intervention strategy. However, it is important to note that the neurobiological evidence in this study only provides a possible association, and the results should be interpreted with caution. Future research is needed to further examine the clinical efficacy of ApBM in IGD, whether as a stand-alone treatment or as an adjunct to formal therapy.

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方法偏差修正降低了网络游戏障碍患者的自动游戏倾向，增强了大脑同步

自动获取游戏相关线索是网络游戏障碍（IGD）的关键因素。方法偏差修正（ApBM）已被证明可以减少成瘾行为，但其神经生物学效应仍然知之甚少。本研究检测了ApBM后IGD患者“自然”状态下脑活动的变化。方法将61例IGD患者中的55例随机分为回避-接近任务组（AAT, n = 30）和假回避-接近任务组（n = 25）。参与者完成了前测试，五个真实/假ApBM会话和后测试。在测试前和测试后，在观看游戏和中性视频时收集功能磁共振成像数据。通过主体间相关性（ISC）和功能连通性（FC）分析apbm相关变化。结果行为数据的方差分析显示，ApBM显著降低了方法偏差和成瘾评分。ISC分析显示，在ApBM后，ATT组的中央旁小叶、楔前叶和岛区同步性增加。此外，在AAT组中，脑岛与额上回、楔前叶和眶额皮质之间的FC减少。结论初步研究结果表明，ApBM可能有效减少对游戏线索的自动接近倾向，突出了其作为干预策略的潜力。然而，值得注意的是，本研究中的神经生物学证据仅提供了一种可能的关联，对结果的解释应谨慎。未来的研究需要进一步研究ApBM在IGD中的临床疗效，无论是作为单独治疗还是作为正式治疗的辅助治疗。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of psychiatric research 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

7.30

自引率

2.10%

发文量

622

审稿时长

130 days

期刊介绍： Founded in 1961 to report on the latest work in psychiatry and cognate disciplines, the Journal of Psychiatric Research is dedicated to innovative and timely studies of four important areas of research: (1) clinical studies of all disciplines relating to psychiatric illness, as well as normal human behaviour, including biochemical, physiological, genetic, environmental, social, psychological and epidemiological factors; (2) basic studies pertaining to psychiatry in such fields as neuropsychopharmacology, neuroendocrinology, electrophysiology, genetics, experimental psychology and epidemiology; (3) the growing application of clinical laboratory techniques in psychiatry, including imagery and spectroscopy of the brain, molecular biology and computer sciences;