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Peng Z, Jia Q, Mao J, Luo X, Huang A, Zheng H, Jiang S, Ma Q, Ma C, Yi Q. Neurotransmitters crosstalk and regulation in the reward circuit of subjects with behavioral addiction. Front Psychiatry 2025; 15:1439727. [PMID: 39876994 PMCID: PMC11773674 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1439727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 12/26/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2025] Open
Abstract
Behavioral addictive disorders (BADs) have become a significant societal challenge over time. The central feature of BADs is the loss of control over engaging in and continuing behaviors, even when facing negative consequences. The neurobiological underpinnings of BADs primarily involve impairments in the reward circuitry, encompassing the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens in the ventral striatum, and prefrontal cortex. These brain regions form networks that communicate through neurotransmitter signaling, leading to neurobiological changes in individuals with behavioral addictions. While dopamine has long been associated with the reward process, recent research highlights the role of other key neurotransmitters like serotonin, glutamate, and endorphins in BADs' development. These neurotransmitters interact within the reward circuitry, creating potential targets for therapeutic intervention. This improved understanding of neurotransmitter systems provides a foundation for developing targeted treatments and helps clinicians select personalized therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenlei Peng
- Xinjiang Clinical Medical Research Center of Mental Health, The Psychological Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Qiyu Jia
- Department of Trauma Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Junxiong Mao
- Xinjiang Clinical Medical Research Center of Mental Health, The Psychological Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xiao Luo
- Xinjiang Clinical Medical Research Center of Mental Health, The Psychological Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Anqi Huang
- Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital, Clinical Teaching Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Zhejiang, China
| | - Shijie Jiang
- Xinjiang Clinical Medical Research Center of Mental Health, The Psychological Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Qi Ma
- Xinjiang Clinical Medical Research Center of Mental Health, The Psychological Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Metabolic Disease, Clinical Medical Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Chuang Ma
- Department of Trauma Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Qizhong Yi
- Xinjiang Clinical Medical Research Center of Mental Health, The Psychological Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
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Tereshchenko SY. Neurobiological risk factors for problematic social media use as a specific form of Internet addiction: A narrative review. World J Psychiatry 2023; 13:160-173. [PMID: 37303928 PMCID: PMC10251362 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v13.i5.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Problematic social media use (PSMU) is a behavioral addiction, a specific form of problematic Internet use associated with the uncontrolled use of social networks. It is typical mostly for modern adolescents and young adults, which are the first generations fully grown up in the era of total digitalization of society. The modern biopsychosocial model of the formation of behavioral addictions, postulating the impact of a large number of biological, psychological, and social factors on addictive behavior formation, may be quite applicable to PSMU. In this narrative review, we discussed neurobiological risk factors for Internet addiction with a focus on current evidence on the association between PSMU and structural/ functional characteristics of the brain and autonomic nervous system, neurochemical correlations, and genetic features. A review of the literature shows that the vast majority of the mentioned neurobiological studies were focused on computer games addiction and generalized Internet addiction (without taking into account the consumed content). Even though a certain number of neuroimaging studies have been conducted for PSMU, there is practically no research on neuropeptide and genetic associations for PSMU to date. This fact points to the extremely high relevance of such studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Yu Tereshchenko
- Department of Child's Physical and Mental Health, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia
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Chen H, Dong G, Li K. Overview on brain function enhancement of Internet addicts through exercise intervention: Based on reward-execution-decision cycle. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1094583. [PMID: 36816421 PMCID: PMC9933907 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1094583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Internet addiction (IA) has become an impulse control disorder included in the category of psychiatric disorders. The IA trend significantly increased after the outbreak of the new crown epidemic. IA damages some brain functions in humans. Emerging evidence suggests that exercise exerts beneficial effects on the brain function and cognitive level damaged by IA. This work reviews the neurobiological mechanisms of IA and describes the brain function impairment by IA from three systems: reward, execution, and decision-making. Furthermore, we sort out the research related to exercise intervention on IA and its effect on improving brain function. The internal and external factors that produce IA must be considered when summarizing movement interventions from a behavioral perspective. We can design exercise prescriptions based on exercise interests and achieve the goal of quitting IA. This work explores the possible mechanisms of exercise to improve IA through systematic analysis. Furthermore, this work provides research directions for the future targeted design of exercise prescriptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Department of Sports, Quzhou University, Quzhou, China.,Department of Graduate School of Education, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, China
| | - Guijun Dong
- Department of Sports, Quzhou University, Quzhou, China.,Department of Graduate School of Education, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, China
| | - Kefeng Li
- Department of Medicine, Quzhou College of Technology, Quzhou, China
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Carpita B, Muti D, Nardi B, Benedetti F, Cappelli A, Cremone IM, Carmassi C, Dell’Osso L. Biochemical Correlates of Video Game Use: From Physiology to Pathology. A Narrative Review. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:775. [PMID: 34440519 PMCID: PMC8401252 DOI: 10.3390/life11080775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last few decades, video game playing progressively became a widespread activity for many people, in childhood as well in adulthood. An increasing amount of literature has focused on pathological and non-pathological correlates of video game playing, with specific attention towards Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). While many neurobiological studies in this field were based on neuroimaging, highlighting structural and functional brain changes among video game users, only a limited number of studies investigated the presence of biochemical correlates of video gaming. The present work aims to summarize and review the available literature about biochemical changes linked to video game use in IGD patients as well as non-pathological users, and the differences in between. Results may shed light on risks and benefits of video games, providing directions for further research on IGD treatment and, on other hand, on the potential role of video games in therapeutic or preventive protocols for specific conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Carpita
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (B.N.); (F.B.); (A.C.); (I.M.C.); (C.C.); (L.D.)
| | - Dario Muti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (B.N.); (F.B.); (A.C.); (I.M.C.); (C.C.); (L.D.)
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Li S, Wu Q, Tang C, Chen Z, Liu L. Exercise-Based Interventions for Internet Addiction: Neurobiological and Neuropsychological Evidence. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1296. [PMID: 32670157 PMCID: PMC7330165 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
With the increase in the number of internet users, the problems associated with excessive internet use have become increasingly obvious. Internet addiction can alter neurobiology, and its symptoms can be alleviated through exercise, but whether exercise exerts these effects through neurobiological pathways is unclear. Here, we reviewed the neurobiological mechanisms of exercise-based interventions against internet addiction by searching PubMed and Google Scholar for relevant research using such keywords as “exercise”, “internet addiction”, “hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis”, “neurotrophin”, and “dopamine”. This review summarizes advances in our understanding of the neurobiological processes through which exercise can reduce internet addiction, and our analysis strengthens the idea that exercise-based interventions can be effective in this regard. The available evidence suggests that exercise can increase the levels of neurotrophic factors, cortisol, and neurotransmitters; improve the morphology of specific parts of the central nervous system, such as by stimulating hippocampal neurogenesis; protect the autonomic nervous system; and control the reward urge. In other words, exercise appears to mitigate internet addiction by regulating the neurobiology of the central and autonomic nervous systems. In this way, exercise-based interventions can be recommended for reducing internet addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Li
- Institute of Sport Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qianjin Wu
- Institute of Sport Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Cheng Tang
- Institute of Sport Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zichao Chen
- Institute of Sport Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Liu
- Institute of Sport Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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