title: Altered gray matter density and disrupted functional connectivity of the amygdala in adults with Internet gaming disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the altered brain structure and functional connectivity (FC) among subjects with Internet gaming disorder (IGD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 30 males with IGD and 30 controls and evaluated their gray matter density (GMD) and FC using resting fMRI. The severities of IGD, gaming urge, and impulsivity were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated that the subjects with IGD had a higher impulsivity and a greater severity of IGD. The subjects with IGD had a lower GMD over the bilateral amygdala than the controls. Further, the subjects with IGD had lower FC with the left amygdala over the left dorsolateral prefrontal lobe (DLPFC) and with the right amygdala over the left DLPFC and orbital frontal lobe (OFL). They also had higher FC with the bilateral amygdala over the contralateral insula than the controls. The FC between the left amygdala and DLPFC was negatively correlated with impulsivity. The FC of the right amygdala to the left DLPFC and orbital frontal lobe was also negatively correlated with impulsivity. Our results indicated that the altered GMD over the amygdala might represent vulnerability to IGD, such as impulsivity. Further analysis of the amygdala demonstrated impaired FC to the frontal lobe, which represents impulsivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggested that the amygdala plays a very influential role in the mechanism of IGD. Its detailed role should be further evaluated in future study and should be considered in the treatment of IGD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsyh-Jyi
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Peng-Wei
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: yenjuyu@cc.kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ju-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D020407:Internet; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Amygdala; Functional connectivity; Gray matter; Impulsivity; Internet gaming disorder