HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING: Partial recovery of truncated posterior frontal-limbic neural circuits in heroin addicts

Heroin addicts (HUs) have altered brain structure and function
.

Heroin addiction is a relapsing brain disorder that has been a major public and social concern for decades

Chronic heroin use can lead to dysfunction of the DA system, especially the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum

Jun Liu et al.

A total of 108 heroin addicts completed structural and functional scans for the study, of whom 61 completed an 8-month follow-up scan
.

Resting-state data and 3D-T1 MR images were collected from all participants, first at baseline (HU1) and again after 8 months (HU2)

Structural differences between HU1 and HU2
.

HU1: Heroin withdrawal users at baseline

Structural differences between HU1 and HU2

Compared with HU1, HU2 showed significantly increased bilateral SFG cortical thickness, left calcarine gyrus, left postcentral gyrus, left fusiform gyrus, left paracentral gyrus, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, and bilateral superior limbic gyrus , The cortical thickness of the right precentral gyrus was significantly reduced

Cognitive improvement (shortened TMT-A time), decreased craving in HU2 compared to baseline (HU1) The cortical thickness of the lateral superior frontal gyrus (SFG) was significantly higher than that of HU1

The left SFG-bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (FWE-corrected) RSFC increased in HU2 compared with HU1
.

Increased RSFC between left SFG-bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (FWE corrected) in HU2 compared to HU1

At HU2 , the left SFG increased RSFC with the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), insula, and nucleus accumbens, and the right SFG with the IFG, insula, and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)
.

At HU2 , the left SFG increased RSFC with the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), insula, and nucleus accumbens, and the right SFG with the IFG, insula, and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)
.

At HU2 , RSFC increased in the left SFG with the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), insula, and nucleus accumbens, and in the right SFG with the IFG, insula, and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC).

The changes of TMT-A time were negatively correlated with the changes of RSFC of left SFG and bilateral IFG, bilateral caudate nucleus and right insula

Changes in craving were negatively correlated with changes in RSFC in the left OFC-bilateral OFC

Changes in RSFC were negatively correlated with changes in TMT-A scores

Changes in RSFC were negatively correlated with changes in TMT-A scores

In HUs, changes in craving scores negatively correlated with changes in RSFC

In HUs, changes in craving scores negatively correlated with changes in RSFC

 

This study found improved cognitive function, decreased craving, and increased SFG cortical thickness and enhanced SFG RSFC in HUs following persistent truncation
.

The link between behavioral changes and neuroimaging further hints at the possibility of brain recovery after truncation in heroin addicts
.

The findings suggest that impaired fronto-limbic neural circuits can be partially restored after truncated heroin addicts, which would support improved cognitive performance and reduced cravings
.
No correlation was found between the right SFG RSFC and improved cognitive function or reduced craving, likely due to brain asymmetry
.

Impaired frontal-limbic neural circuits can be partially restored after truncated heroin addicts, which would support improved cognitive performance and reduced cravings
.
Impaired frontal-limbic neural circuits can be partially restored after truncated heroin addicts, which would support improved cognitive performance and reduced cravings
.

 

original source

original source

Recovery of superior frontal gyrus cortical thickness and resting-state functional connectivity in abstinent heroin users after 8 months of follow-up

Recovery of superior frontal gyrus cortical thickness and resting-state functional connectivity in abstinent heroin users after 8 months of follow-up

Wenhan Yang,Min Zhang,Fei Tang,Yanyao Du,Li Fan,Jing Luo,Cui Yan,Shicong Wang,Jun Zhang,Kai Yuan,Jun Liu.
First published: 24 March 2022 https://doi.
org/10.
1002/hbm .
25841

Wenhan Yang,Min Zhang,Fei Tang,Yanyao Du,Li Fan,Jing Luo,Cui Yan,Shicong Wang,Jun Zhang,Kai Yuan,Jun Liu.
First published: 24 March 2022 https://doi.
org/10.
1002/hbm .
25841 https://doi.
org/10.
1002/hbm.
25841 Leave a comment here