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)

中国科学院（武汉）的一项研究发现，网瘾会扰乱青少年的脑神经。

据《长江日报》报道，科学家利用磁共振成像技术来观察网瘾对大脑结构的影响。

扫描发现，大脑中的白质出现严重损伤，由此验证了“行为上瘾”和毒品上瘾一样会使大脑出现物理损伤。

科学家怀疑，该损伤可能缘起髓鞘受损。据了解，髓鞘是一种包裹在神经纤维外面使其与外界隔离并帮助其发挥功能的脂肪。