title: Failure to utilize feedback causes decision-making deficits among excessive Internet gamers.
abstract: Internet gaming addiction (IGA) is an increasing mental health issue worldwide. Previous studies have revealed decision-making impairments in excessive Internet gamers (EIGs) with high symptoms of IGA. However, the role of feedback processing in decision-making deficits among EIGs remains unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of feedback processing on decision-making deficits under risk among EIGs, using the Game of Dice Task (GDT) and a modified version of the GDT in which no feedback was provided. Twenty-six EIGs and 26 matched occasional Internet gamers (OIGs) were recruited. The results showed: (a) OIGs performed better on the original GDT than on the modified GDT (no feedback condition); however, EIGs performed similarly on both tasks; (b) EIGs and OIGs performed equally on the modified GDT; however, EIGs chose more disadvantageous options than OIGs on the original GDT; (c) EIGs utilized feedback less frequently on the original GDT relative to OIGs. These results suggest that EIGs are not able to utilize feedback to optimize their decisions, which could underlie their poor decision-making under risk.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Pin-Ru
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ling-Jiao
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: zhangjintao@bnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jin-Tao
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Gui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Yuan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Qin-Xue
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: fangxy@bnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yi
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D005717:Games, Experimental; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012306:Risk; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Decision-making; Feedback processing; Game of Dice Task; Internet gaming addiction