Prefrontal control and Internet addiction : a theoretical model and review of neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings
Most people use the Internet as a functional tool to perform their personal goals in everydaylife
such as making airline or hotel reservations. However, some individuals suffer from a
loss of control over their Internet use resulting in personal distress, symptoms of psychological
dependence, and diverse negative consequences. This phenomenon is often
referred to as Internet addiction. Only Internet Gaming Disorder has been included in the
appendix of the DSM-5, but it has already been argued that Internet addiction could also
comprise problematic use of other applications with cybersex, online relations, shopping,
and information search being Internet facets at risk for developing an addictive behavior.
Neuropsychological investigations have pointed out that certain prefrontal functions in particular
executive control functions are related to symptoms of Internet addiction, which is
in line with recent theoretical models on the development and maintenance of the addictive
use of the Internet. Control processes are particularly reduced when individuals with
Internet addiction are confronted with Internet-related cues representing their first choice
use. For example, processing Internet-related cues interferes with working memory performance
and decision making. Consistent with this, results from functional neuroimaging
and other neuropsychological studies demonstrate that cue-reactivity, craving, and decision
making are important concepts for understanding Internet addiction. The findings on
reductions in executive control are consistent with other behavioral addictions, such as
pathological gambling. They also emphasize the classification of the phenomenon as an
addiction, because there are also several similarities with findings in substance dependency.
The neuropsychological and neuroimaging results have important clinical impact,
as one therapy goal should enhance control over the Internet use by modifying specific
cognitions and Internet use expectancies.
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