Gray matter deficits and resting-state abnormalities in abstinent heroin-dependent individuals.
Previous neuroimaging studies have demonstrated both structural and functional damages in heroin-dependent individuals. However, few studies investigated gray matter deficits and abnormal resting-state networks together in heroin-dependent individuals. In the present study, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to identify brain regions with gray matter density reduction. Resting-state fMRI connectivity analysis was employed to assess potential functional abnormalities during resting-state. All clinical significances were investigated by examining their association with duration of heroin use. Compared with healthy subjects, heroin-dependent individuals showed significant reduction in gray matter density in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and a decrease in resting-state functional connectivity between the right DLPFC and left inferior parietal lobe (IPL). The gray matter density of the right DLPFC and its resting-state functional connectivity with the left IPL both showed significantly negative correlation with duration of heroin use, which were likely to be related to the functional impairments in decision-making and cognitive control exhibited by heroin-dependent individuals. Our findings demonstrated that long heroin dependence impairs the right DLPFC in heroin-dependent individuals, including structural deficits and resting-state functional impairments.
Yuan
Kai
K
Life Sciences Research Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an 710071, China.
Qin
Wei
W
Dong
Minghao
M
Liu
Jixin
J
Sun
Jinbo
J
Liu
Peng
P
Zhang
Yi
Y
Wang
Wei
W
Wang
Yarong
Y
Li
Qiang
Q
Zhao
Liyan
L
von Deneen
Karen M
KM
Liu
Yijun
Y
Gold
Mark S
MS
Tian
Jie
J
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors