Mindfulness Meditation Training Reduces Gaming Cravings by Reshaping the Functional Connectivity Between the Default Mode Network and Executive Control-Related Brain Regions.
Xuefeng Xu, Xuefeng Ma, Haosen Ni, Huabin Wang, Tongtong Wang, Chang Liu, Xiaolan Song, Guang-Heng Dong
Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging August 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.04.011 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 61 |
| Population | Adults with internet gaming disorder |
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation Progressive muscle relaxation |
| Duration | 1-month training with 8 sessions |
| Topics | Default mode network Meditation |
| Keywords | Executive control network Functional connectivity Internet gaming disorder Mindfulness meditation |
| Citations | 14 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation decreased addiction severity and game craving and increased functional connectivity between executive control and default mode/reward networks. |
Abstract
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) can lead to psychological problems and cause behavioral problems in individuals. Traditional interventions have been ineffective in treating IGD. Meanwhile, mindfulness meditation (MM) is an emerging method that has proven to be effective for treating psychiatric disorders. In this study, MM was used to intervene in IGD and to explore its neural mechanism. Eighty participants were recruited through advertisements. Eventually, 61 completed the 1-month training (MM group, n = 31; progressive muscle relaxation [PMR] group, n = 30), including a pretest, 8 training sessions, and a posttest. Regional homogeneity and degree centrality were calculated, and the tests (pre- and post-) and group (MM and PMR) analysis of variance was performed. The overlapping results were obtained as region of interest for functional connectivity (FC) analyses. Behavioral data and neurotransmitter availability maps were correlated with FC. Compared with PMR, MM decreased the severity of addiction and game craving in IGD. Brain imaging results showed that the FC between and within the executive control and default mode networks/reward-related regions were enhanced. Significant negative correlations were observed between FC and dopamine receptor D2, dopamine transporter, and vesicular acetylcholine transporter. Significant positive correlations were observed between FCs and serotonin and aminobutyric acid receptors. This study confirmed the effectiveness of MM in treating IGD. MM altered the default mode and enhanced top-down control over game cravings. These findings were revealed by the correlations between brain regions and behavioral and biochemical effects. The results show the neural mechanism of MM in reducing IGD and lay the foundation for future research.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on default mode network, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin Healthy volunteers | 2012 | Within-subjects, placebo-controlled, task-free fMRI study | n = 30 |
| The effects of psilocybin and MDMA on between-network resting state functional connectivity in healthy volunteers | 2014 | Placebo-controlled study | |
| Ketamine Decreases Resting State Functional Network Connectivity in Healthy Subjects: Implications for Antidepressant Drug Action Healthy subjects | 2012 | Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover rsfMRI challenge | |
| Antidepressants Normalize the Default Mode Network in Patients With Dysthymia Subjects with dysthymic disorder and healthy control participants aged 18 to 53 years | 2013 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Functional Connectivity Measures After Psilocybin Inform a Novel Hypothesis of Early Psychosis Healthy volunteers | 2012 | Within-subject, placebo-controlled experimental study | n = 15 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial to Enhance Executive Function via Brief Mindfulness Training in Individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder. PLoS One 2025
- Meditation-Based Therapies for Chronic Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus August 1, 2024
- Mindfulness-based and mindfulness-informed interventions for internet use disorders in adolescents and young adults: A three-level random-effects meta-analysis Journal of Behavioral Addictions September 18, 2026
- Both online and face-to-face mindfulness meditation can change cortical structure in internet gaming disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research October 1, 2025
- Mindfulness meditation reduces symptoms and modulates neural circuitry in comorbid internet gaming disorder and depression. PNAS Nexus September 1, 2025
and 1 more in the library
Cites 11
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Meditation interventions efficiently reduce cortisol levels of at-risk samples: a meta-analysis Health Psychology Review July 7, 2020
- Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on sleep quality and mental health for insomnia patients: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research May 21, 2020
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction can alleviate cancer- related fatigue: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research December 27, 2019
- The Effects of Meditation, Yoga, and Mindfulness on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Tertiary Education Students: A Meta-Analysis Frontiers in Psychiatry April 24, 2019
and 6 more in the library