Reduced thalamic resting‐state functional connectivity and impaired cognition in acute abstinent heroin users

Abstract

As a critical component of cortico‐striato‐thalamo‐cortical loop in addiction, our understanding of the thalamus in impaired cognition of heroin users (HU) has been limited. Due to the complex thalamic connection with cortical and subcortical regions, thalamus was divided into prefrontal (PFC), occipital (OC), premotor, primary motor, sensory, temporal, and posterior parietal association subregions according to white matter tractography. We adopted seven subregions of bilateral thalamus as regions of interest to systematically study the implications of distinct thalamic nuclei in acute abstinent HU. The volume and resting‐state functional connectivity (RSFC) differences of the thalamus were investigated between age‐, gender‐, and alcohol‐matched 37 HU and 33 healthy controls (HCs). Trail making test‐A (TMT‐A) was adopted to assess cognitive function deficits, which were then correlated with neuroimaging findings. Although no significant different volumes were found, HU group showed decreased RSFC between left PFC_thalamus and middle temporal gyrus as well as between left OC_thalamus and inferior frontal gyrus and supplementary motor area relative to HCs. Meanwhile, the higher TMT‐A scores in HU were negatively correlated with PFC_thalamic RSFC with inferior temporal gyrus, fusiform, and precuneus. Craving scores were negatively correlated with OC_thalamic RSFC with accumbens, hippocampus, and insula. Opiate Withdrawal Scale scores were negatively correlated with left PFC/OC_thalamic RSFC with orbitofrontal cortex and medial PFC. We indicated two thalamus subregions separately involvement in cognitive control and craving to reveal the implications of thalamic subnucleus in pathology of acute abstinent HU.

Altered brain functional network dynamics in classic trigeminal neuralgia: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

“…In our dFNC study, we further suggested reduced temporal variability in the functional efficiency of the thalamus, especially located in the ventroposterior medial region. In general, the ventroposterior medial thalamus is under inhibition of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) released from the thalamic reticular nucleus; this process was supposed to play a key role in controlling thalamocortical rhythm [ 81 , 82 ]. Moreover, aberrant thalamic firing, especially increased burst firing in the somatosensory thalamus without overall hyperactivity, has been proven to be associated with neuropathic pain [ 69 ].…”

The relationship between craving and insular morphometry in regular cocaine users: Does sex matter?

“…Altogether, these findings corroborate existing evidence that the insula is critically involved in craving and as such the development and maintenance of substance use disorders, including cocaine use disorder. 10,11,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][45][46][47] Importantly, the association between stress-relief craving and right insular GMV was significantly moderated by sex: Although the association was negative in CU women, this association was positive in CU men. Although we expected these sex differences to be particularly pronounced in insular CT, these findings are in line with previous research that demonstrated that abstinence induced craving is negatively related to insular CT in nicotine dependent women, but positively related to insular CT in nicotine dependent men.…”

Are There Neural Overlaps of Reactivity to Illegal Drugs, Tobacco, and Alcohol Cues? With Evidence From ALE and CMA

“…It can be seen that the thalamus is like an eraser that erases the memory of addiction. The two subregions of the thalamus are also involved in cognitive control and craving, revealing the implications of the thalamic subnucleus in the pathology of acute abstinent heroin users ( 104 ). Thus, the thalamus has become a new focus for solving drug addiction.…”