Exploring neural correlates of different dimensions in drug craving self-reports among heroin dependents

Introduction: Drug craving could be described as a motivational state which drives drug dependents towards drug seeking and use. Different types of self-reports such as craving feeling, desire and intention, wanting and need, imagery of use, and negative affect have been attributed to this motivational state. By using subjective self-reports for different correlates of drug craving along with functional neuroimaging with cue exposure paradigm, we investigated the brain regions that could correspond to different dimensions of subjective reports for heroin craving

Methods: A total of 25 crystalline-heroin smokers underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging [fMRI], while viewing heroin-related and neutral cues presented in a block-design task. During trial intervals, subjects verbally reported their subjective feeling of cue induced craving [CIC]. After fMRI procedure, participants reported the intensity of their [need for drug use] and [drug use imagination] on a 0-100 visual analog scale [VAS]. Afterwards, they completed positive and negative affect scale [PANAS] and desire for drug questionnaire [DDQ] with 3 components of [desire and intention to drug use], [negative reinforcement,] and [loss of control]

Results: The study showed significant correlation between [subjective feeling of craving] and activation of the left and right anterior cingulate cortex, as well as right medial frontal gyrus. Furthermore, the [desire and intention to drug use] was correlated with activation of the left precentral gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, and left middle frontal gyrus. Subjects also exhibited significant correlation between the [need for drug use] and activation of the right inferior temporal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, and right parahippocampal gyrus. Correlation between subjective report of [heroin use imagination] and activation of the cerebellar vermis was also observed. Another significant correlation was between the [negative affect] and activation of the left precuneus, right putamen, and right middle temporal gyrus

Discussion: This preliminary study proposes different neural correlates for various dimensions of subjective craving self-reports. It could reflect multidimensionality of cognitive functions corresponding with drug craving. These cognitive functions could represent their motivational and affective outcomes in a single item [subjective craving feeling] or in self-reports with multiple dissociable items, such as intention, need, imagination, or negative feeling. The new psychological models of drug craving for covering various dimensions of subjective craving self-reports based on their neurocognitive correspondence could potentially modify craving assessments in addiction medicine

neural representation of rhythm, non-rhythm and melody aspects in Persian classical music: an fMRI study

The perception of music relies on many culture-specific factors; nevertheless this is processed by physiological and functional attributes of the brain system. The aim of this study is to evaluate the functional activity of brain during the perception of rhythm and melody in Persian classical music using fMRI. The test consists of two groups of Persian Modal music scales, frequently called Dastgah. Mahour and Homayoun, in two parts of non-rhythmic and rhythmic pieces presented on 19 right-handed non-musicians. The results of this study revealed the brain activities for each of rhythmic and non-rhythmic versions of Mahour and Homayoun Dastgah. For non-rhythmic Mahour, the activation was found in right lingual gyrus, right precuneous cortex, left Inferior frontal gyrus, and left temporal lobe; whereas for rhythmic Mahour, the areas contain left supplementary motor cortex, left superior frontal gyrus, right and left precentral and postcentral gyrus, left supramarginal gyrus, and right temporal pole. The activated regions for non-rhythmic Homayoun include right and left subcallosal cortex, left medial frontal cortex, left anterior cingulate gyrus, and left frontal pole. In contrast, for rhythmic Homayoun, alternative areas including left precentral gyrus, left precuneous cortex, left anterior supramarginal, and left postcentral gyrus were revealed. rhythmic pieces were shown to activate the areas mostly involved in movement while non-rhythmic pieces related to emotional and memory regions. Although, these results are not consistent totally with the previous findings on western music, they are similar to the outcomes performed on eastern cultural subjects

Homayoun as a persian music scale on non-musician's brain: an fMRI study

The aim of this study was to get to a neurological evaluation of one of the Persian music scales, Homayoun, on brain activation of non-musician subjects. We selected this scale because Homayoun is one of the main scales in Persian classical music which is similar to minor mode in western scales. This study was performed on 19 right handed subjects, Aging 22-31. Here some pieces from Homayoun Dastgah are used in both rhythmic and non-rhythmic. The results of this study revealed the brain activities for each of rhythmic and non-rhythmic versions of Homayoun Dastgah. The activated regions for non-rhythmic Homayoun contained: right and left Subcallosal Cortex, left Medial Frontal cortex, left anterior Cingulate Gyrus, left Frontal Pole and for rhythmic Homayoun contained: left Precentral Gyrus, left Precuneous Cortex, left anterior Supramarginal, left Superior Parietal Lobule, left Postcentral Gyrus. Also, we acquired amygdala area in both pieces of music. Based on arousal effects of rhythm and Damasio's somatic marker hypothesis, non-rhythmic Homayoun activates regions related to emotion and thinking while activity of rhythmic Homayoun is related to areas of movement and motion