Resting-state beta and gamma activity in Internet addiction (2013)

Int J Psychophysiol. 2013 Sep;89(3):328-33. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2013.06.007.

Choi JS1, Park SM, Lee J, Hwang JY, Jung HY, Choi SW, Kim DJ, Oh S, Lee JY.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2013.06.007

Highlights

  1. Resting-state EEG was recorded in patients with Internet addiction.
  2. High impulsivity and impaired inhibitory control were observed in Internet addiction.
  3. Decreased absolute power on the beta band was found in Internet addiction.
  4. Increased absolute power on the gamma band was found in Internet addiction.
  5. This EEG difference was associated with impulsivity in Internet addiction.

Abstract

Internet addiction is the inability to control one’s use of the Internet and is related to impulsivity. Although a few studies have examined neurophysiological activity as individuals with Internet addiction engage in cognitive processing, no information on spontaneous EEG activity in the eyes-closed resting-state is available. We investigated resting-state EEG activities in beta and gamma bands and examined their relationships with impulsivity among individuals with Internet addiction and healthy controls. Twenty-one drug-naïve patients with Internet addiction (age: 23.33 ± 3.50 years) and 20 age-, sex-, and IQ-matched healthy controls (age: 22.40 ± 2.33 years) were enrolled in this study. Severity of Internet addiction was identified by the total score on Young’s Internet Addiction Test. Impulsivity was measured with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 and a stop-signal task. Resting-state EEG during eyes closed was recorded, and the absolute/relative power of beta and gamma bands was analyzed. The Internet addiction group showed high impulsivity and impaired inhibitory control. The generalized estimating equation showed that the Internet-addiction group showed lower absolute power on the beta band than did the control group (estimate = − 3.370, p < 0.01). On the other hand, the Internet-addiction group showed higher absolute power on the gamma band than did the control group (estimate = 0.434, p < 0.01). These EEG activities were significantly associated with the severity of Internet addiction as well as with the extent of impulsivity. The present study suggests that resting-state fast-wave brain activity is related to the impulsivity characterizing Internet addiction. These differences may be neurobiological markers for the pathophysiology of Internet addiction.

Keywords

  • Internet addiction;
  • Resting-state;
  • Beta power;
  • Gamma power;
  • Impulsivity;
  • EEG

Corresponding author at: Department of Psychiatry, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, 20 Boramae-ro 5-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-707, Republic of Korea. Tel.: + 82 2 870 2462; fax: + 82 2 831 2826.