title: Molecular and functional imaging of internet addiction.
abstract: Maladaptive use of the Internet results in Internet addiction (IA), which is associated with various negative consequences. Molecular and functional imaging techniques have been increasingly used for analysis of neurobiological changes and neurochemical correlates of IA. This review summarizes molecular and functional imaging findings on neurobiological mechanisms of IA, focusing on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear imaging modalities including positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). MRI studies demonstrate that structural changes in frontal cortex are associated with functional abnormalities in Internet addicted subjects. Nuclear imaging findings indicate that IA is associated with dysfunction of the brain dopaminergic systems. Abnormal dopamine regulation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) could underlie the enhanced motivational value and uncontrolled behavior over Internet overuse in addicted subjects. Further investigations are needed to determine specific changes in the Internet addictive brain, as well as their implications for behavior and cognition.
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China ; Zhejiang University Medical PET Center, Hangzhou 310009, China ; Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China ; Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors: Yunqi
authors: Y
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China ; Zhejiang University Medical PET Center, Hangzhou 310009, China ; Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China ; Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China ; Zhejiang University Medical PET Center, Hangzhou 310009, China ; Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China ; Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Tian
mesh_terms: D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011859:Radiography; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine