Internet addiction is a clinical disorder marked by out-of-control Internet use. A research team led by Hao Lei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Wuhan carried out brain scans of 35 men and women aged between 14 and 21.
Specialized MRI brain scans showed changes in the white matter of the brain, the part that contains nerve fibres in those classed as Internet addicts (对网络入迷的人), compared with non-addicts.
There was evidence of disruption (中断) to connections in nerve fibres linking brain areas involved in emotions, decision-making, and self-control.
Dr. Hao Lei and colleagues write in Plos One:
“Overall, our findings indicate that IAD has abnormal white matter integrity(完整) in brain regions involving emotional generation and processing, executive(行政的)attention, decision-making and cognitive(认知的) control.
“The results also suggest that IAD may share psychological and neural mechanisms (机制) with other types of substance addiction and impulse control disorders.”
Prof. Gunter Schumann, chair in biological psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, London, said similar findings have been found in video game addicts. He told the BBC, “For the first time two studies show changes in the neuronal(神经元的) connections between brain areas as well as changes in brain function in people who are frequently using the Internet or video games.”
Commenting on the Chinese study, Dr. Henrietta Bowden-Jones, psychiatrist and honorary senior lecturer at Imperial College London, said the research was “groundbreaking”.
She added: “We are finally being told what doctors suspected for some time, and that white matter abnormalities(反常) in the brain are present not only in addictions where substances are involved but also in behavioural ones such as Internet addiction.”
She said further studies with larger numbers of subjects were needed to confirm the findings.
66. The researchers found 17 persons addicted to be Internet by_______.
A. asking them questions B. comparing their brains
C. watching their behavior D. giving them medical tests
67. What did the experts find from brain scans?
A. The color of the white matter is different. B. The white matter of the brain has changed.
C. The nerve fibres stop working completely.
D. The nerve fibres don't control their actions.
68. Prof. Gunter Schumann would agree that _______.
A. Internet addicts are similar to video game addicts
B. Internet addiction is different from drug addiction
C. the new study doesn't agree with other findings
D. similar studies have never been conducted before
69. According to Dr. Henrietta Bowden-Jones, the Chinese study ______ .
A. is of no practical value B. needs further evidence
C. is of great significance D. confirms previous studies
70. What can be the best title of the passage?
A. Internet Addiction B. Keep away from Internet
C. Internet Addiction Disorder D. Web Addicts Have Brain Changes