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Abnormal white matter integrity observed in Internet-addicted adolescents

Fractional anisotropy reductions in major white matter pathways were observed in youths with Internet addiction disorder, according to a study.

Researchers investigated with diffusion tensor imaging and whole brain voxel-wise analysis by tract-based spatial statistics. They found that 17 subjects with Internet addiction disorder had lower fractional anisotropy throughout the brain compared with 16 healthy controls.

“Such abnormal white matter structure may be linked to some behavioral impairments,” the researchers wrote, suggesting that white matter integrity could present a new focus for treatment.

Investigators found that adolescents with Internet addiction disorder had lower fractional anisotropy in orbitofrontal white matter, corpus callosum, cingulum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, corona radiation, and internal and external capsules.

“[Fractional anisotropy] may be a qualified biomarker to understand the underlying neural mechanisms of injury or to assess the effectiveness of specific early interventions,” the authors wrote.

Disclosure: The study was partially supported by Natural Science Foundation of China, National Basic Research Program of China, Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Excellent Doctoral Thesis Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences.