title: Avatar's neurobiological traces in the self-concept of massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) addicts.
abstract: Psychometric studies suggest that observed self-concept deficits in addicted massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) are compensated through the replacement of their ideal (i.e., how an individual would like to be) by their own avatar (i.e., graphical agent in the virtual world). Neurobiological studies indicate that increased identification with their own avatar in regular MMORPG gamers is possibly reflected by enhanced avatar-referential brain activation in the left angular gyrus (AG). However, the neurobiological correlates reflecting the relations of the avatar to addicted gamers' self and ideal are still unexplored. Therefore, we compare these relations between addicted and nonaddicted MMORPG gamers. A sample of n = 15 addicted and n = 17 nonaddicted players underwent functional MRI (fMRI) while completing a Giessen-Test (GT)-derived paradigm assessing self-, ideal-, and avatar-related self-concept domains. Neurobiological analyses included the comparisons avatar versus self, avatar versus ideal, and avatar versus self, ideal. Psychometrically, addicts showed significantly lower scores on the self-concept subscale of 'social resonance,' that is, social popularity. In all avatar-related contrasts, within-group comparisons showed addicted players to exhibit significantly higher brain activations in the left AG. The between-groups comparisons revealed avatar-related left AG hyperactivations in addicts. Our results may suggest that addicted MMORPG players identify significantly more with their avatar than nonaddicted gamers. The concrete avatar might increasingly replace the rather abstract ideal in the transition from normal- controlled to addictive-compulsive MMORPG usage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dieter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University.
authors.forename: Madlen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sell
authors.affiliation: Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Reinhard
authors.affiliation: Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vollstädt-Klein
authors.affiliation: Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University.
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kiefer
authors.affiliation: Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University.
authors.forename: Tagrid
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leménager
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D020407:Internet; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012381:Role Playing; D012649:Self Concept; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult