Gray matter abnormalities in Internet addiction: a voxel-based morphometry study

Yan Zhou; Fu-Chun Lin; Ya-Song Du; Ling-di Qin; Zhi-Min Zhao; Jian-Rong Xu; Hao Lei

doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.10.025

Gray matter abnormalities in Internet addiction: a voxel-based morphometry study

Eur J Radiol. 2011 Jul;79(1):92-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.10.025. Epub 2009 Nov 18.

Authors

Yan Zhou¹, Fu-Chun Lin, Ya-Song Du, Ling-di Qin, Zhi-Min Zhao, Jian-Rong Xu, Hao Lei

Affiliation

¹ Department of Radiology, RenJi Hospital, Jiao Tong University Medical School, Shanghai 200127, PR China. clare1475@hotmail.com

PMID: 19926237
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.10.025

Abstract

Background: This study aims to investigate brain gray matter density (GMD) changes in adolescents with Internet addiction (IA) using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis on high-resolution T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance images.

Methods: Eighteen IA adolescents and 15 age- and gender-matched healthy controls took part in this study. High-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed on the two groups. VBM analysis was used to compare the GMD between the two groups.

Results: Compared with healthy controls, IA adolescents had lower GMD in the left anterior cingulate cortex, left posterior cingulate cortex, left insula, and left lingual gyrus.

Conclusions: Our findings suggested that brain structural changes were present in IA adolescents, and this finding may provide a new insight into the pathogenesis of IA.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Behavior, Addictive* / epidemiology
Brain / pathology*
Case-Control Studies
China / epidemiology
Female
Gyrus Cinguli / pathology
Humans
Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
Incidence
Internet*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Male
Surveys and Questionnaires