We previously observed in fMRI, higher resting state synchrony (RSS) within the executive control (inhibitory control and emotion regulation) networks and lower RSS within the appetitive drive network in long-term (multi-year) abstinent alcoholics (LTAA) vs non substance abusing controls (NSAC) (Camchong et al., 2013b). We found similar effects, although to a lesser degree, in short-term (~ 6–15 weeks abstinent) abstinent alcoholics (STAA) (Camchong et al., 2013c). We believe these cross-sectional differences reflect adaptive changes that support abstinence both because of the observation of graded effects in short-term vs. long-term abstinence and because these networks play important roles in the changes needed for continued abstinence, where inhibiting behavior and reducing appetitive drive are central (Hare et al., 2009, Medalla and Barbas, 2009, Naqvi and Bechara, 2010). If it can be confirmed in longitudinal studies that the degree of these changes in the appetitive drive and executive control networks is associated with and predictive of successful abstinence, then interventions that directly augment these changes, such as neurofeedback that “feeds back” measures of brain network synchrony, may have treatment potential for recovering alcoholics.
