Internet gaming disorder and tobacco use disorder share neural connectivity patterns between the subcortical and the motor network

Abstract

AbstractInternet gaming disorder (IGD) and tobacco use disorder (TUD) are globally common, non‐substance‐related disorders and substance‐related disorders worldwide, respectively. Recognizing the commonalities between IGD and TUD will deepen understanding of the underlying mechanisms of addictive behavior and excessive online gaming. Using node strength, 141 resting‐state data were collected in this study to compute network homogeneity. The participants included participants with IGD (PIGD: n = 34, male = 29, age: 15–25 years), participants with TUD (PTUD: n = 33, male = 33, age: 19–42 years), and matched healthy controls (control‐for‐IGD: n = 41, male = 38, age: 17–32 years; control‐for‐TUD: n = 33, age: 21–27 years). PIGD and PTUD exhibited common enhanced node strength between the subcortical and motor networks. Additionally, a common enhanced resting‐state functional connectivity (RSFC) was found between the right thalamus and right postcentral gyrus in PIGD and PTUD. Node strength and RSFC were used to distinguish PIGD and PTUD from their respective healthy controls. Interestingly, models trained on PIGD versus controls could classify PTUD versus controls and vice versa, suggesting that these disorders share common neurological patterns. Enhanced connectivity may indicate a greater association between rewards and behaviors, inducing addiction behaviors without flexible and complex regulation. This study discovered that the connectivity between the subcortical and motor networks is a potential biological target for developing addiction treatment in the future.