Alterations in orbitofrontal cortex functional connectivity and decision making deficits in heroin-dependent individuals / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) functional connectivity and its association with decision-making deficits in chronic heroin-dependent individuals (HDIs) and explore the neural mechanisms of heroin addiction and relapse.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourteen male chronic HDIs and 14 healthy subjects matched for age, education, and nicotine consumption participated in this study. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed using a 1.5 T MR scanner. Functional connectivity of the OFC and the rest of the brain were calculated using REST software. Voxel-based analysis of the functional connectivity maps between the control and HDI groups was performed with two-sample t test. The Iowa gambling task (IGT) was used to assess the participants' decision making during uncertainty.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the HDIs showed significantly decreased functional connectivity of the OFC and the right inferior parietal lobule (rIPL) (t=3.5, P<0.05). A significant negative correlation was noted between the functional connectivity of the OFC-rIPL and performance level at the IGT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The OFC-rIPL functional connectivity is significantly disrupted in HDIs, which may be the neural basis for decision-making deficits.</p>