Clinical trial NCT06957392: Mechanisms and Interventions of Social Reward on Cognitive Control in Internet Gaming Disorder
Official title: Mechanisms and Interventions of Social Reward Modulating Cognitive Control in Internet Gaming Disorder Via the dACC-DLPFC Circuit
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Internet Gaming Disorder
Keywords: Internet gaming disorder
Cognitive control
dACC-DLPFC
Social reward
Lead sponsor: The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Bengbu Medical University
First posted: 2025-05-04
Enrollment: 60
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 35
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) involves impaired cognitive control linked to reduced social reward and dACC-DLPFC brain circuit dysfunction. Enhancing social reward may restore this circuit and improve symptoms. This study uses psychological interventions and neuroimaging to explore and treat IGD.

Detailed description: Cognitive control decline is a key factor in the long-term persistence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC)-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) circuit serves as the neural mechanism underlying the maintenance of normal cognitive control function. Social reward activities have been shown to enhance the function of both the dACC and DLPFC. IGD patients exhibit reduced social reward sensitivity alongside diminished functional activity in these two brain regions. Our previous research found that psychological interventions aimed at improving cognitive control can alleviate IGD symptoms; however, individuals with poor social interaction still show limited improvement. Based on these findings, we propose the hypothesis that reduced social reward sensitivity in IGD leads to weakened functional connectivity of the dACC-DLPFC circuit, resulting in cognitive control deficits and exacerbation of IGD behaviors. Enhancing social reward is expected to promote functional connectivity within the dACC-DLPFC circuit, thereby improving cognitive control and mitigating IGD symptoms. To test this hypothesis, we will conduct the following studies: (1) Employing a combination of E-Prime behavioral paradigms, event-related potentials (ERP), and neuroimaging techniques to investigate the attenuated facilitative effects of social reward on cognitive control in IGD patients, and examine its correlation with reduced functional connectivity in the dACC-DLPFC circuit. (2) Designing a psychological intervention aimed at enhancing social reward sensitivity, to evaluate its efficacy in improving cognitive control and reducing IGD severity.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Individuals aged between 18 and 35 years, irrespective of gender, having completed a minimum of 9 years of education and capable of effectively cooperating in questionnaire evaluations.
* Consent to actively cooperate in the completion of subsequent follow-up assessments.
* All are right-handed
* The Gaming Disorder Screening (GDSS) Scale score ≥ 47 points;
* The main game played is Honor of Kings; Average weekly gaming time (Honor of Kings) greater than 21 hours, maintained for over one year; More than 50% of daily internet time spent playing online games;

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe cognitive functional impairments manifested through a history of head trauma, cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy, etc., or usage of cognitive enhancement drugs in the past 6 months; an intellectual disability with an IQ score less than 70.
* A diagnosis of schizophrenia or other severe mental illnesses as per the DSM-5 criteria.
* Abuse or dependence on other psychoactive substances (excluding nicotine) within the past 5 years.
* Severe organic diseases that might compromise study participation.
* Color blindness or color weakness

Primary outcomes:
measure: Severity of Gaming Disorder
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 1 month
measure: Social Reward
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 1 month
measure: Executive Function
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 1 month
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Changes of Behavioral Indicators
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 1 month
measure: Changes of Electrophysiological Indicators
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 1 month
measure: Neuroimaging Indicators
timeFrame: through study completion, an average of 1 month
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Bengbu
country: China
facility: Bengbu Medical University
Study officials:
affiliation: School of Mental Health, Bengbu Medical University
name: Dongliang Jiao, doctor
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References: