Left Hippocampus to Anterior Cingulate Cortex Connectivity Correlates with Worse Recent Verbal Memory in Pornography Addicted Juveniles

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background and aims Imperil by the convenience of information and knowledge access, children exposed to pornography have worsened. As such, this study aims to gain insight into brain connectivity and cognitive function effect of pornography addiction in juveniles, as the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to specifically learn about memory function in juvenile’s pornography addiction.

Methods We screened 30 juveniles with 4 dropouts (13 non-addiction vs 13 addiction group). Subjects underwent neuropsychiatric tests (memory, attention, and intelligence) and fMRI image acquisition. We carried correlation analysis of brain connectivity and neuropsychiatric test results.

Results Significant disconnection between left hippocampus to ACC (Z-transformed r-value, non-addiction vs addiction = 0.07 ± 0.19 vs −0.08 ± 0.17, p=0.04, cohen d=0.83) followed by worse verbal recent memory in pornography addicted juveniles (RAVLT A6 sub-score, p < 0.01, d=0.67; A7 sub-score, p=0.01). Attention and intelligence test resulted to insignificant correlation.

Discussion This data-driven analysis result strongly promotes the involvement of cortico-subcortical systems in pornography addiction, emphasizing the role of reward system pathology, indifferent to addiction pathophysiology in general. Decline in working memory, which are maintained by corticolimbic network, including hippocampus and ACC, affects goal-oriented behaviour greatly. This, correspond to our significant result of addiction group’s decline in memory, regardless of its association with attention and intelligence.

Conclusion Disconnection between left hippocampus to ACC suggested similar neurobiological abnormalities as seen on other addictive disorders. Its disconnection was also correlated with worse verbal recent memory in pornography addicted juveniles, without affecting attention and intelligence, results showed.

Footnotes

* Rizki Edmi Edison rizkiedmiedison{at}uhamka.ac.id| Hainah Ellydar ellyrisman{at}yahoo.com| Peter Pratama peter.pratama88{at}gmail.com| Sitti Evangeline Imelda Suaidy evasuaidy{at}gmail.com| Nya’ Zata Amani nyazataamani{at}gmail.com| Diavitri Carissima dcarissima{at}yahoo.com| Ghina Faradisa Hatta ghina.fbatta{at}gmail.com

* Funding sources: This work was supported in part by Indonesian Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (government-sponsored) and PuP gratefully acknowledges additional funding by LPDP for the Beasiswa Untuk Dosen Indonesia Luar Negeri 2018-2021 scholarship (201711220411922). This study was funded without involvement of external funders in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

* Competing interest: The authors declare no competing interest exist.

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ABBREVIATION LISTS

ACC

Anterior Cingulate Cortex

ASAM

American Society of Addiction Medicine

dACC

Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex

DMN

Default Mode Network

fMRI

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

FOV

Field of View

ICA

Independent Component Analysis

MCC

Midcingulate Cortex

MNI

Montreal Neurological Institute

NFC

Negative Functional Connectivity

PCC

Posterior Cingulate Cortex

PFC

Prefrontal Cortex

RAVLT

Ray Auditory Verbal Learning Test

ROCFT

Ray-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test

ROI

Region of Interest

TE

Echo Time

TMT

Trail Making Test

TR

Repetition Time

WISC IQ

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children for IQ

YKBH

Yayasan Kita Dan Buah Hati