European Addiction Research

Henemann G.M.a· Schmitgen M.M.a· Wolf N.D.a· Hirjak D.b· Kubera K.M.a· Sambataro F.c· Lemenager T.d· Koenig J.e· Wolf R.C.a

Author affiliations

aDepartment of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
bDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
cDepartment of Neurosciences, Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
dDepartment of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
eDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Cologne, Germany

Log in to MyKarger to check if you already have access to this content.

Buy FullText & PDF Unlimited re-access via MyKarger Unrestricted printing, no saving restrictions for personal use read more

CHF 38.00 *
EUR 35.00 *
USD 39.00 *

Select

KAB

Buy a Karger Article Bundle (KAB) and profit from a discount!

If you would like to redeem your KAB credit, please log in.

Save over 20% compared to the individual article price.

Learn more

Access via DeepDyve Unlimited fulltext viewing Of this article Organize, annotate And mark up articles Printing And downloading restrictions apply

Select

Subscribe Access to all articles of the subscribed year(s) guaranteed for 5 years Unlimited re-access via Subscriber Login or MyKarger Unrestricted printing, no saving restrictions for personal use read more

Subcription rates

Select

* The final prices may differ from the prices shown due to specifics of VAT rules.

Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview

Received: December 21, 2021
Accepted: August 26, 2022
Published online: December 05, 2022

Number of Print Pages: 5
Number of Figures: 1
Number of Tables: 1

ISSN: 1022-6877 (Print)
eISSN: 1421-9891 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/EAR

Abstract

Background: Excessive smartphone use (ESU), that is, a pattern of smartphone use that shows specific features of addictive behavior, has increasingly attracted societal and scientific interest in the past years. On the neurobiological level, ESU has recently been related to structural and functional variation in reward and salience processing networks, as shown by, for example, aberrant patterns of neural activity elicited by specific smartphone cues. Objectives: Expanding on these findings, using cross-modal correlations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based measures with nuclear imaging-derived estimates, we aimed at identifying neurochemical pathways that are related to ESU. Methods: Cross-modal correlations between functional MRI data derived from a cue-reactivity task administered in persons with and without ESU and specific PET/SPECT receptor probability maps. Results: The endogenous mu-opioid receptor (MOR) system was found to be significantly (FDR-corrected) correlated with fMRI data, and z-transformed correlation coefficients showed an association (albeit nonsignificant after FDR-correction) between MOR and the Smartphone Addiction Inventory “withdrawal” dimension. Conclusions: We could identify the MOR system as a neurochemical pathway associated with ESU. The MOR system is closely linked to the reward system, which has been recognized as a key player in addictive disorders. Together with its potential link to withdrawal, the MOR system hints toward a biologically highly relevant marker, which should be taken into consideration in the ongoing scientific discussion on technology-related addictive behaviors.

© 2022 S. Karger AG, Basel

References Demirci K, Akgönül M, Akpinar A. Relationship of smartphone use severity with sleep quality, depression, and anxiety in university students. J Behav Addict. 2015;4(2):85–92. Lin YH, Chiang CL, Lin PH, Chang LR, Ko CH, Lee YH, et al. Proposed diagnostic criteria for smartphone addiction. PLoS One. 2016;11(11):e0163010. Schmitgen MM, Horvath J, Mundinger C, Wolf ND, Sambataro F, Hirjak D, et al. Neural correlates of cue reactivity in individuals with smartphone addiction. Addict Behav. 2020;108:106422. Volkow ND, Fowler JS, Wang GJ, Baler R, Telang F. Imaging dopamine’s role in drug abuse and addiction. Neuropharmacology. 2009;56:3–8. Darcq E, Kieffer BL. Opioid receptors: drivers to addiction? Nat Rev Neurosci. 2018;19(8):499–514. Dukart J, Holiga S, Rullmann M, Lanzenberger R, Hawkins PCT, Mehta MA, et al. JuSpace: a tool for spatial correlation analyses of magnetic resonance imaging data with nuclear imaging derived neurotransmitter maps. Hum Brain Mapp. 2021;42(3):555–66. Kim SK, Jeong H, Im JJ, Lee SH, Chung YA. PET hypometabolism of the prefrontal-cingulate cortices in internet gaming disorder. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:566518. Majuri J, Joutsa J, Johansson J, Voon V, Alakurtti K, Parkkola R, et al. Dopamine and opioid neurotransmission in behavioral addictions: a comparative PET study in pathological gambling and binge eating. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017;42(5):1169–77. Tian M, Chen Q, Zhang Y, Du F, Hou H, Chao F, et al. PET imaging reveals brain functional changes in internet gaming disorder. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2014;41(7):1388–97. Lin YH, Chang LR, Lee YH, Tseng HW, Kuo TB, Chen SH. Development and validation of the smartphone addiction inventory (SPAI). PLoS One. 2014;9(6):e98312. Heinz A, Reimold M, Wrase J, Hermann D, Croissant B, Mundle G, et al. Correlation of stable elevations in striatal μ-opioid receptor availability in detoxified alcoholic patients with alcohol craving: a positron emission tomography study using carbon 11–labeled carfentanil. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62(1):57–64. Weerts EM, Wand GS, Kuwabara H, Munro CA, Dannals RF, Hilton J, et al. Positron emission tomography imaging of mu- and delta-opioid receptor binding in alcohol-dependent and healthy control subjects. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2011;35(12):2162–73. Mouaffak F, Leite C, Hamzaoui S, Benyamina A, Laqueille X, Kebir O. Naltrexone in the treatment of broadly defined behavioral addictions: a review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur Addict Res. 2017;23(4):204–10. Hayes DJ, Greenshaw AJ. 5-HT receptors and reward-related behaviour: a review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2011;35(6):1419–49. Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview

Received: December 21, 2021
Accepted: August 26, 2022
Published online: December 05, 2022

Number of Print Pages: 5
Number of Figures: 1
Number of Tables: 1

ISSN: 1022-6877 (Print)
eISSN: 1421-9891 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/EAR

Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.