title: Resting-state beta and gamma activity 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Su Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jaewon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hee Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sam-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Dai Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sohee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jun-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Beta power; EEG; Gamma power; Impulsivity; Internet addiction; Resting-state