Incredible facts
The brain of Internet addicts is undergoing the same changes as in the brains of drug addicts and alcoholics.
Chinese scientists scanned the brains of 35 girls and boys aged 14 to 21. 17 of them were Internet addicts. As a result, scientists have found changes in the white matter of the brains of Internet addicts. People who are addicted to the Internet have been found to have changes in brain nerve fibers associated with self-control, emotions and decision-making. Similar changes are taking place in the brains of alcoholics and drug addicts.
Professor Gunter Shumann from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London says the same changes are found in the brain addicted to video games.
Commenting on the study by Chinese scientists, Dr. Henrietta Bowden-Jones from the Royal Institute (Imperial College) in London said that she considers the discovery of Chinese scientists very important. The doctor clarifies that people who spend a lot of time on the Internet are experiencing significant changes that lead to problems with attention and behavior — this is how addiction to the Internet develops.
The doctor also notes that further studies with more volunteers are needed in order to confirm the results of the study by Chinese scientists.