Neural Basis of Altered Impulsivity in Individuals With Internet Gaming Disorder: State-of-the-art Review

Purpose of ReviewImpulsivity is a core feature and a risk factor of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). Hence, studies started examining the neural mechanisms that underlie this impulsivity. However, the big picture of such mechanisms is not clear. This paper seeks to survey recent cognitive neuroscience research on IGD and impulsivity and provide a synthesized view.Recent FindingsResearch has indicated that individuals with IGD have a greater degree of impulsivity than healthy controls (HC) and recreational Internet gaming users (RGU). This increased impulsivity has been associated with dysfunction or structural changes in the frontal lobe, striatum, amygdala, and insula, as well as the functional connectivity attributes between these areas. Nevertheless, there are some conflicting conclusions that should be explored further.SummaryStudies have revealed that impulsivity is a risk factor for IGD, and that impulsivity facets are linked to IGD both behaviorally and neurobiologically. Additionally, the functional connections between the frontal lobe, striatum, amygdala, and insula could underlie the link between high impulsivity and IGD.