Functional connectivity-related changes underlying mindfulness meditation for internet gaming disorder: a randomized clinical trial.
Xuefeng Xu, Haosen Ni, Huabin Wang, Tongtong Wang, Chang Liu, Xiaolan Song, Guang-Heng Dong
npj Mental Health Research July 31, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s44184-025-00154-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized clinical trial Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 80 |
| Population | Patients with internet gaming disorder |
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation Progressive muscle relaxation |
| Duration | 8 sessions over 8 weeks |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation enhanced functional connectivity within the executive control network and frontostriatal pathway, improving top-down control over game craving. |
Abstract
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is recognized as a mental health issue. Traditional interventions have limitations, but mindfulness meditation (MM) shows promise due to its flexibility and social acceptance. Study 1, fMRI data from 61 IGD patients and 60 healthy controls (HCs) were compared to assess functional connectivity (FC). Study 2- a randomized clinical trial, 80 IGD patients underwent either an MM intervention (twice-weekly for 8 sessions) or progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) as a control (pre-registered-Chinese clinical trial registry, ChiCTR2300075869, September 18, 2023). Study 1 revealed abnormal FC within the executive control network (ECN) and between the ECN and reward network in IGD patients. Study 2 showed that MM enhanced FC within the ECN and frontostriatal pathway. MM refining the coupling between brain regions involved in executive control and reward processing. This enhancement improves top-down control over game craving. These findings suggest that MM can effectively treat IGD.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- The Effect of Brief Mindfulness Meditation on Attention Networks in University Students with Problematic Short-Video Use Behavioral Sciences August 25, 2026
- Integrating Yoga and Mindfulness in the Management of Internet Gaming Disorder: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Future Directions. Current Psychiatry Reports September 9, 2026
- Mindfulness-based interventions for children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a Bayesian meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Frontiers in Psychology March 11, 2026
Cites 9
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Mindfulness Meditation and Psychopathology Annual Review of Clinical Psychology December 11, 2018
- Mindful attention reduces neural and self-reported cue-induced craving in smokers Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience November 22, 2011
- Mindfulness Meditation Training and Executive Control Network Resting State Functional Connectivity: A Randomized Controlled Trial Psychosomatic Medicine March 22, 2017
- Restructuring Reward Mechanisms in Nicotine Addiction: A Pilot fMRI Study of Mindfulness‐Oriented Recovery Enhancement for Cigarette Smokers Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2017
and 4 more in the library