An interesting line of studies explores cue-related PFC activation during acute pharmacological drug exposure. In heroin-dependent males receiving heroin injections while viewing drug-related videos, CBF in OFC correlated with the urge to use the drug, and CBF in DLPFC (Brodmann area 9) correlated with happiness22 (Supplementary information S2 (table)). In this context, it is interesting to note that the mere taste of alcohol (versus litchi juice) can increase BOLD PFC activity in young drinkers, and this response correlates with alcohol use and craving35 and is possibly driven by dopamine neurotransmission in the subcortical reward circuit36. By contrast, in non-dependent alcohol drinkers or cigarette smokers, cue-related OFC activity was reduced by alcohol or nicotine administration, respectively37. This finding resonates with the finding that in non-addicted subjects, intravenous MPH administration decreased metabolism in ventral PFC regions38 (BOX 2). Future studies could directly compare PFC responses to drug-related cues in non-dependent and dependent individuals and thereby further explore the impact of intoxication on cue-related PFC responses. Modelling of bingeing in drug abusing subjects would be informative for the design of interventions to reduce cue-induced compulsive behaviours.
