The AUD group also demonstrated decreased FC in the ECN (especially between the right IPG, SMG, and angular gyrus and right middle frontal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus). Alteration in fronto-parietal connectivity is the most commonly observed finding in substance use disorders (51–53). Fronto-parietal connectivity mediates cognitive control functions, such as inhibitory control, planning, and complex decision making (54, 55). Combined together, these results indicate that the altered FC between the frontal area and hippocampus, as the key node, may be associated with excessive attentional bias to drug-related cues, preferential assignment to drug-seeking behavior, and repeated drug administration caused by loss of control.
