Neuroimaging uncovers brain connectivity patterns linked to online shopping addiction

A recent study published in Neuropsychologia has identified specific patterns of brain connectivity that can predict an individual’s tendency toward online shopping addiction. Using advanced brain imaging and predictive modeling techniques, researchers found that certain connections between key brain networks, such as the frontal-parietal network and default mode network, played significant roles. These findings provide insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of this growing behavioral addiction.

As online shopping becomes increasingly ingrained in modern life, especially following the surge in e-commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic, some individuals exhibit problematic behaviors described as online shopping addiction. This behavioral addiction is characterized by excessive and compulsive online shopping that disrupts daily life and social functioning. Despite its growing prevalence, the neural mechanisms underlying this addiction have remained largely unexplored.

The researchers aimed to address this gap by identifying brain connectivity patterns, or a “connectome,” specific to online shopping addiction. Such findings could help differentiate online shopping addiction from other related behavioral disorders, such as generalized internet addiction, and guide the development of clinical diagnostic tools and interventions.

The study involved 218 college students aged 16 to 26, all of whom were recruited from Southwest University in China. Participants underwent an assessment of their online shopping addiction tendencies using a validated questionnaire that included items like “I always spend a lot of time on shopping sites every day.” This scale reliably measures the risk of addiction based on behaviors and attitudes toward online shopping.

In addition to this, participants completed scales measuring generalized internet addiction and impulsivity. These measures allowed the researchers to account for overlapping traits and behaviors while isolating those unique to online shopping addiction.

Participants also underwent an eight-minute resting-state functional MRI scan. This imaging technique measures spontaneous brain activity and functional connectivity between different brain regions while the individual is not engaged in any specific task. The researchers used a machine learning framework called connectome-based predictive modeling to analyze the data. This approach identifies brain connectivity patterns associated with behavioral tendencies—in this case, online shopping addiction.

The researchers found that specific patterns of brain connectivity could reliably predict individual tendencies toward online shopping addiction. These patterns were referred to as the “online shopping addiction connectome.” The connectome included two distinct types of networks: a positive network, where stronger connectivity correlated with higher addiction tendencies, and a negative network, where stronger connectivity correlated with lower addiction tendencies.

In the positive network, key connections were identified between the frontal-parietal network and the cingulo-opercular network. The frontal-parietal network is associated with cognitive control and decision-making, while the cingulo-opercular network plays a role in sustained attention and monitoring errors. Notable regions within this network included the middle frontal gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus, which are critical for regulating self-control and impulsivity.

The researchers proposed that individuals with a higher risk of online shopping addiction might rely more on these brain regions to exert cognitive control over their behaviors. This reliance may reflect an ongoing internal struggle to manage compulsive shopping impulses.

Conversely, the negative network included connections within the default mode network and between the default mode network and other regions, such as the frontal-parietal network and visual networks. The default mode network is central to self-referential thinking, emotion regulation, and attention. Stronger connectivity within and between these regions was associated with lower online shopping addiction tendencies.

Key areas of the negative network included the anterior cingulate cortex and inferior temporal gyrus, which are linked to emotional processing and the capacity to manage distractions effectively. These findings suggest that individuals with stronger connectivity in the negative network may have better emotional regulation and cognitive control, reducing their vulnerability to addiction.

Importantly, the study demonstrated that these connectivity patterns were specific to online shopping addiction and distinct from generalized internet addiction.

Another finding was the role of impulsivity in mediating the relationship between the negative network and online shopping addiction. Individuals with weaker connectivity within the default mode network exhibited higher levels of impulsivity, which, in turn, increased their susceptibility to compulsive shopping behaviors. This mediation effect highlights the interplay between brain connectivity and personality traits in influencing addiction tendencies. Impulsivity appears to act as a pathway through which weaker neural connectivity predisposes individuals to problematic behaviors.

While the study provides valuable insights, it has several limitations. First, the sample consisted exclusively of college students, limiting the generalizability of the findings to other age groups or populations. Future research should investigate whether these brain connectivity patterns apply to older adults or individuals with more severe clinical symptoms of online shopping addiction.

Second, the study relied on resting-state functional connectivity, which captures baseline brain activity. While informative, this approach does not establish causal relationships between brain connectivity and addiction behaviors. Experimental studies using interventions such as brain stimulation could help clarify these causal links.

Lastly, the study focused on identifying predictive brain patterns but did not address potential treatment implications. Future research could explore how these findings might inform therapeutic strategies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or non-invasive brain stimulation, to improve self-control and reduce compulsive shopping behaviors.

The study, “Individualized prediction of online shopping addiction from whole-brain functional connectivity,” was authored by Liang Shi, Zhiting Ren, Qiuyang Feng, and Jiang Qiu.