Jae Seung Chang1, Eun Young Kim2, Dooyoung Jung3, Seong Hoon Jeong4, Yeni Kim5, Myoung-Sun Roh6, Yong Min Ahn7, Bong-Jin Hahm8. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Dongguk University Ilsan Medical Center, 27 Dongguk-Ro, Ilsandong-Gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi 410-773, Republic of Korea. 2. Mental Health Clinic, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-Ro, Ilsandong-Gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi 410-769, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Eulji University Hospital, 1306 Seo-Gu, Dunsan-Dong, Daejeon 302-799, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, National Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Seoul National Hospital, 398 Neungdong-Ro, Gwangin-Gu, Seoul 143-711, Republic of Korea. 6. Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul 110-799, Republic of Korea. 7. Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea. 8. Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hahm@snu.ac.kr.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate changes in heart rate variability and cardiorespiratory coupling in male college students with problematic Internet use (PIU) excessive gaming type during action video game play to assess the relationship between PIU tendency and central autonomic regulation. METHOD: Electrocardiograms and respiration were simultaneously recorded from 22 male participants with excessive online gaming and 22 controls during action video game play. Sample entropy (SampEn) was computed to assess autonomic regularity, and cross-SampEn was calculated to quantify autonomic coordination. RESULTS: During video game play, reduced cardiorespiratory coupling (CRC) was observed in individuals with PIU excessive gaming type compared with controls, implicating central autonomic dysregulation. The PIU tendency was associated with the severity of autonomic dysregulation. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate impaired CRC in PIU excessive gaming type, which may reflect alterations of central inhibitory control over autonomic responses to pleasurable online stimuli.
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate changes in heart rate variability and cardiorespiratory coupling in male college students with problematic Internet use (PIU) excessive gaming type during action video game play to assess the relationship between PIU tendency and central autonomic regulation. METHOD: Electrocardiograms and respiration were simultaneously recorded from 22 male participants with excessive online gaming and 22 controls during action video game play. Sample entropy (SampEn) was computed to assess autonomic regularity, and cross-SampEn was calculated to quantify autonomic coordination. RESULTS: During video game play, reduced cardiorespiratory coupling (CRC) was observed in individuals with PIU excessive gaming type compared with controls, implicating central autonomic dysregulation. The PIU tendency was associated with the severity of autonomic dysregulation. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate impaired CRC in PIU excessive gaming type, which may reflect alterations of central inhibitory control over autonomic responses to pleasurable online stimuli.