Internet addiction disrupts nerve wiring in the brains of teenagers, a study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Wuhan has found, the Changjiang Daily reported.

Scientists used a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique to look at internet addiction's effects on brain structure.

Brain scans showed significant damage to white matter in the brain, proving that "behavioral" addictions can cause physical brain damage in the same way as drug addictions.

The scientists suspect the damage is caused by disrupted myelin, the fatty insulating sheath that coats nerve fibers and helps them to function.

(China.org.cn January 14, 2012)

中國科學院（武漢）的一項研究發現，網癮會擾亂青少年的腦神經。

據《長江日報》報道，科學家利用磁共振成像技術來觀察網癮對大腦結構的影響。

掃描發現，大腦中的白質出現嚴重損傷，由此驗證了“行為上癮”和毒品上癮一樣會使大腦出現物理損傷。

科學家懷疑，該損傷可能緣起髓鞘受損。據了解，髓鞘是一種包裹在神經纖維外面使其與外界隔離并幫助其發揮功能的脂肪。