Functional and structural brain abnormalities in substance use disorder: A multimodal meta‐analysis of neuroimaging studies

Abstract

Introduction: Numerous neuroimaging studies of resting-state functional imaging and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) have revealed that patients with substance use disorder (SUD) may present brain abnormalities, but their results were inconsistent. This multimodal neuroimaging meta-analysis aimed to estimate common and specific alterations in SUD patients by combining information from all available studies of spontaneous functional activity and gray matter volume (GMV). Methods: A whole-brain meta-analysis on resting-state functional imaging and VBM studies was conducted using the Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI) software, followed by multimodal overlapping to comprehensively investigate function and structure of the brain in SUD.Results: In this meta-analysis, 39 independent studies with 47 datasets related to resting-state functional brain activity (1444 SUD patients; 1446 healthy controls [HCs]) were included, as well as 77 studies with 89 datasets for GMV (3457 SUD patients; 3774 HCs). Patients with SUD showed the decreased resting-state functional brain activity in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex/ medial prefrontal cortex (ACC/mPFC). For the VBM meta-analysis, patients with SUD showed the reduced GMV in the bilateral ACC/mPFC, insula, thalamus extending to striatum, and left sensorimotor cortex. Conclusions: This multimodal meta-analysis exhibited that SUD shows common impairment in both function and structure in the ACC/mPFC, suggesting that the deficits in functional and structural domains could be correlated together. In addition, a few regions exhibited only structural impairment in SUD, including the insula, thalamus, striatum, and sensorimotor areas.

Neuropsychology of chronic back pain managed with long-term opioid use

“…Structurally, opioid use was associated with lower whole-brain gray matter volume and regional gray matter density than CBP−O. These structural changes were also modest compared to those observed in CBP 35,36 or substance use disorder (SUD) 37,38 . Our morphometric results somewhat contradict earlier reports 45,46 , which show rapid, more extensive, and persistent gray matter decreases; however, these previous reports studied a smaller, opioid-naïve CBP sample.…”

Sex-based differences in brain morphometry under chronic stress: A pilot MRI study

“…Ansell et al [ 7 ] found that the greater the intensity of stressful life events, the smaller the GMV of the cingulate cortex, ventral PFC, and insula. Reduced GMV in the bilateral ACC is also associated with substance use disorder (SUD) [ 45 ].However, the present study did not find hippocampi or amygdala volume alterations, which consistent with some previous studies [ 46 ]. This is partly due to smaller sample size and differences in the definition and measurement of stress, which may lead to neuroimaging results differences.…”

Non‐abstinent recovery in alcohol use disorder is associated with greater regional cortical volumes than heavy drinking

“…In those with AUD, alterations in insular processing may lead individuals to engage in maladaptive behaviors, such as heavy substance use, despite the experience of aversive consequences. Structural abnormalities in the insula have also been shown among people who use substances; a recent meta‐analysis of 77 imaging studies found a pattern of decreased insular cortex GM volume specifically among individuals with AUD (Yan et al, 2023). In the present study, both RH and RL exhibited significantly lower volume in the insula compared to LN, while AB had comparable insula volume to LN (although RH and RL did not differ from AB).…”