Internet Addiction and PET

Abstract

Pathological use of the Internet is a new and rapidly growing worldwide phenomenon; however, few studies have examined the neurobiological factors underlying this condition. Internet addiction has been considered a behavioral addiction that is accompanied by withdrawal symptoms and tolerance, characteristics that may result from abnormalities in neural substrates involved in impulse control and reward processing. Recent studies on Internet addiction have highlighted symptoms of cognitive and emotional dysfunction that are similar to other types of drug and/or behavioral addiction. In this chapter, we describe the results of neurobiological investigations of the underlying mechanisms of Internet addiction using positron emission tomography (PET). The altered cerebral glucose metabolism and the reduced striatal dopamine D2 receptor availability found in people exhibiting pathological use of the Internet are discussed in terms of the similarities of these characteristics to those observed in substance abusers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved). (chapter)