had smaller volumes in frontal cortices (left pars orbitalis, right medial orbitofrontal, right caudal middle frontal regions) as well as in bilateral hippocampi [6], further confirming possible aberrations frontal networks exhibited by AUD patients. Furthermore, the increased impulsivity and visual memory performance observed in the current study could also be related to hyperconnectivity in the frontal networks observed in the current study as well as to the structural deficits reported in our earlier work on the same participants [6]. On the other hand, the AUD group also manifested local hyperconnectivity within the posterior regions (bilateral PCC–L.IPL). It is well known that PCC and IPL are pivotal regions for social cognition [100], and recent studies have suggested that hyperconnectivity between these regions may indicate interpersonal and emotional disturbances [101,102]. During a cue-reactivity performance in AUD patients (without a control group), Huang et al. [103] observed hyperconnectivity between dorso-medial PFC and insula anteriorly and between PHG and angular gyrus posteriorly in addition to long-range hypoconnectivity across multiple regions during the alcoholic beverage condition compared to non-alcoholic beverage condition. Taken together, local hyperconnectivity in frontal and parietal regions may indicate aberrations in emotional, motivational and social behaviors, possibly giving rise to externalizing features
