ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

Advances in Psychological Science ›› 2012, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (12): 2033-2041.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2012.02033

• Regular Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Are the Internet Addicts’ Brain Different from the Normal Users’?

HE Jin-Bo;HONG Wei-Qi;BAO Yuan-Chun;LEI Yu-Ju   

  1. (Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education; School of Psychology, Central China Normal University; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, China)
  • Received:2012-05-21 Online:2012-12-15 Published:2012-12-15
  • Contact: HE Jin-Bo

Abstract: Studies on whether the brain of internet addicts are different from the normal users’ would contribute to defining, diagnosis and treatment of internet addiction. In recent years, cognitive neuroscience studies have suggested that, compared with normal users, internet addicts’ brain have four main abnormalities: a. frontal lobe and cingulated gyrus are atrophic and degradative, resulting in inability to control their internet use. b. Hippocampus is dysfunctional, resulting in the decline of cognitive ability, especially working memory. c. Compensation of the reward center is enhanced, which is probably related to dysfunction of dopaminergic system. d. Posterior limb of internal capsule of people with internet addiction becomes more dense and active, which may be related to the fact that IAD subjects spent too much time on computer games and their repetitive actions such as mouse clicking and keyboard typing. These studies, at least, indicate that there are abnormalities in function of addicts’ brain, which are similar to substance addicts’. However, further researches are still needed to make sure whether these abnormalities are caused by internet addiction and whether these abnormalities are structural or chronic.

Key words: Internet Addiction, brain structure, brain function, abnormality