The current study reports negative relationships between on functional connectivity strength in the left executive control network, duration of chronic alcohol use, and disorder severity that may represent how such alcohol use negatively impacts brain function. Deterioration in functional connectivity strength in the LECN involved in cognitive control, decision–making and regulatory processes, may represent less efficient communication and function within this important network. These results suggest that altered functional connectivity related to problematic alcohol use may contribute to the underlying pathology of addiction, particularly with increasing longevity of disease.
