Internet addiction associated with right pars opercularis in females (2019)

J Behav Addict. 2019 Jan 20:1-7. doi: 10.1556/2006.7.2018.135.

Inhóf O1, Zsidó AN1, Perlaki G2,3,4, Orsi G2,3,4, Lábadi B1, Kovács N2,5, Szente A5, Dóczi T2,3,4, Janszky J2,5, Darnai G1,2,5.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Structural differences in higher-order brain areas are common features of behavioral addictions, including Internet addiction (IA) as well. Taking into consideration the limited number of studies and methods used in previous studies on IA, our aim was to investigate the correlates of IA and the morphometry of the frontal lobes.

METHODS:

To observe these relationships, the high-resolution T1-weighted MR images of 144 healthy, Caucasian, university students were analyzed with volumetry and voxel-based morphometry. The Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ) was used to assess IA.

RESULTS:

We found significant correlations between PIUQ subscales and the volume of the right pars opercularis volume and gray matter mass in women.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:

The increased gray matter measures of this structure might be explained with the extended effort to control for the impulsive behavior in addiction, and with the increased number of social interactions via the Internet.

KEYWORDS: Internet addiction; gender differences; pars opercularis; volumetry

PMID: 30663329

DOI: 10.1556/2006.7.2018.135