title: Brain connectivity aberrations in anabolic-androgenic steroid users.
abstract: Sustained anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use has adverse behavioral consequences, including aggression, violence and impulsivity. Candidate mechanisms include disruptions of brain networks with high concentrations of androgen receptors and critically involved in emotional and cognitive regulation. Here, we tested the effects of AAS on resting-state functional brain connectivity in the largest sample of AAS-users to date. We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 151 males engaged in heavy resistance strength training. 50 users tested positive for AAS based on the testosterone to epitestosterone (T/E) ratio and doping substances in urine. 16 previous users and 59 controls tested negative. We estimated brain network nodes and their time-series using ICA and dual regression and defined connectivity matrices as the between-node partial correlations. In line with the emotional and behavioral consequences of AAS, current users exhibited reduced functional connectivity between key nodes involved in emotional and cognitive regulation, in particular reduced connectivity between the amygdala and default-mode network (DMN) and between the dorsal attention network (DAN) and a frontal node encompassing the superior and inferior frontal gyri (SFG/IFG) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), with further reductions as a function of dependency, lifetime exposure, and cycle state (on/off).
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Westlye
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Dag
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alnæs
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Doping Control Laboratory, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingunn R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Hullstein
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Department on Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjørnebekk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000728:Androgens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D063132:Connectome; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000728:Androgens
keywords: Amygdala; Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS); Default-mode network; Dependency; Functional connectivity; fMRI