title: Dysfunctional connectivity patterns in chronic heroin users: an fMRI study.
abstract: Recent functional neuroimaging studies have examined cognitive inhibitory control, decision-making and stress regulation in heroin addiction using a cue-reactivity paradigm. Few studies have considered impairments in heroin users from an integrated perspective for evaluation of their brain functions. We hypothesized that the brain regions that are dysregulated in the chronic heroin users during cue-reactivity studies may also show dysfunctional connectivity in memory, inhibition and motivation-related dysfunctions during a resting state free of cues. The present study used resting functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare the interaction of brain regions between 12 chronic heroin users and 12 controls by employing a novel graph theory analysis (GTA) method. As a data-driven approach, GTA has the advantage of evaluating the strength as well as the temporal and spatial patterns of interactions among the brain regions. Abnormal topological properties were explored in the brain of chronic heroin users, such as the dysfunctional connectivity in the prefrontal cortex, ACC, SMA, ventral striatum, insula, amygdala and hippocampus. Our results suggest that GTA is a useful tool in defining dysregulated neural networks even during rest. This dysfunctional brain connectivity may contribute to decrease self-control, impaired inhibitory function as well deficits in stress regulation in chronic heroin users.
authors.affiliation: Life Science Research Center, School of Electronic Engineering, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710071, China.
authors.forename: Jixin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jimin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yarong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: von Deneen
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003463:Cues; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen