Disrupted Sensory–Motor Network Integrity in Excessive Online Gaming: Insight From Multimodal Morphometric Mapping

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Excessive online gaming (EOG) is a transitional stage between recreational gaming and internet gaming disorder (IGD), characterized by impaired self‐control and escalating engagement. Early identification of neural and behavioral vulnerabilities is crucial for understanding IGD development. Methods Fifty‐nine young adults (30 EOG, 29 controls) completed structural MRI and behavioral assessments, including the IGD Scale‐Short Form (IGDS9‐SF) and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). Source‐based morphometry (SBM) identified independent gray matter networks, while behavioral profiling and receptor‐level mapping examined functional and neurochemical associations. Results SBM revealed six gray matter components, with one network encompassing the right thalamus and precentral gyrus showing reduced loading in EOG, which negatively correlated with IGDS9‐SF scores. Behavioral annotation linked this network to sensory integration, attention, and motor‐executive control. Spatial overlap with serotonergic and dopaminergic receptor distributions indicated potential neurotransmitter involvement. Conclusion Early alterations in sensory‐motor networks and associated neurotransmitter systems may contribute to impaired self‐regulation and heightened reward sensitivity, providing a multimodal framework for understanding the progression from excessive gaming to IGD.