The Imbalance Between Goal-directed And Habitual Control In Internet Gaming Disorder:Behavioral And Neuroimaging Evidence

Background: Internet gaming disorder(IGD)is a public health concern and a behavior addiction that is included in DSM-5.The balance between habit control action and goal-directed action of the instrumental learning processes are seen as the core mechanism that contributes to the development and maintenance of addictive behavior.However,there were no research has evaluated the transform from goal directed to habit control processes regarding IGD.Thus,the purpose of this study was to explore this balance and its neurological relevance in IGD.Method: We recruited 26 online game addicts and 26 recreational game users(RGU)matched by age,gender,and education level underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during discriminative instrumental learning task.We explore the difference between task performance and task-related blood oxygen level-dependent activation in the brain was compared between the IGD group and RGU group.In addition,we assessed whether the IAT score,inhabit control,stress,and work memory would affect the instrumental learning.Results: Compared with RGU group: 1.There is no difference in the working memory task.2.In the learning stage,the final learning level difference between the two groups is not significantly different,but IGD learns more slowly.IGD group have hyper-activity in the ventromedial prefrontal(vmPFC),Caudate,bilateral precuneus during the learning stage.In addition,the IAT score was negatively correlated with the beta value of vmPFC and Caudate during the learning stage.3.During the outcome-devalued stage,IGD has lower correct response rates for devalued outcome related stimuli,4.In the inhibition stage,there was no difference in the correct accuracy rate between the two groups,but the IGDresponse slower than RGU and corresponding caudate nucleus activation were lower.5.Brain activation results show that the difference in goal-directed behavior of IGD is related to the activation of the caudate nucleus after controlling different response inhibition.Discussion: The working memory of IGD has not changed significantly.The results of the learning stage suggest that IGD are more difficult in the goal-directed learning process and that the difference between vmPFC and Caudate activation is related.The devaluation stage indicates that the goal-directed system of IGD is impaired and is not sensitive to the devaluation of the outcome.It also reflects the excessive dependence on the habitual control system.The results of the inhibition stage indicate that the ability to inhibit the reaction is a possible cause of over-reliance on habit control.Conclusion: This study is the first points out that the overreliance on habitual controls action in IGD.The vmPFC may be a target for intervention in IGD.