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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT06063642

Neurofeedback for Internet Gaming Addiction

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) neurofeedback in alleviating internet gaming disorder (IGD) symptoms by training individuals with such symptoms to down-regulate the activity in their reward-processing-related midbrain regions.

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Key information

Conditions

Internet Gaming Disorder Behavior Behavior, Addictive Compulsive Behavior Impulsive Behavior Internet Addiction Disorder Technology Addiction

Age range

18 year–28 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau

Taipa, 99078, Macau

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Meet at least five of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria for IGD and score 38 or above on the Internet Addiction Test (IAT)
  • First language is Chinese (Mandarin)
  • Right-handed
  • Have played the mobile game "King of Glory" for more than 3 years
  • Ability to give informed consent
  • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision

Exclusion criteria

  • Any primary diagnosis of a current psychological or neurological disorder
  • Any history of psychological or neurological disorder
  • Any MRI contraindication
  • Currently on a psychotropic medication
  • Any history of substance dependence
  • Any history of brain injury or surgery

Treatment and study plan

Neurofeedback training

Device

Neurofeedback training is a type of non-invasive brain modulation technique that enables individuals to self-regulate brain activity patterns by providing them feedback on specific activity measures. Effective self-regulation is often linked to changes in cognition, behavior, and clinical symptoms.

Sham feedback training

Device

A controlled form of neurofeedback training that provides feedback irrelevant to the targeted mental process.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline in self-reported urge for internet gaming as assessed by Visual Analog Scales (1 to 100)

    Time frame: Up to 30 days after the intervention session

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in reward-related activity during exposure to internet gaming videos

    Time frame: Up to 3 days

    Participants will complete cue-reactivity tasks in which they are exposed to video clips captured from the dependent mobile game before and after the intervention. Functional MRI data will be collected to measure their pre- to post-intervention changes in the brain reward processing pathways.

  2. Change in inhibitory response in the affective Go/Nogo task

    Time frame: Up to 3 days

    This task that uses affective Chinese characters as stimuli will be used to examine changes in inhibitory control performance as well as changes in brain activity associated with this cognitive process pre- to post-intervention.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Macau

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Real-time Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Neurofeedback Treatment for Young Adults With Internet Gaming Addiction

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Oct 2, 2023
Registry last updated
Jul 30, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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