Participants with AUD showed increased connectivity in the DMN, especially areas connected with the bilateral hippocampi. Previous studies on substance use disorders have demonstrated the critical role of the hippocampus in substance-related neuroplasticity and relapse (43–45). A previous study suggests that the hippocampus links with multiple cortico-striatal regions to impact memory and decision making (46). The hippocampus interacts with other striatal-limbic regions and plays an important role in drug-related contextual memories such as acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval of learning of addiction-related cues, which underlie the reinstatement of drug-seeking behaviors (47, 48). In addition, integrated inputs from the hippocampus, ACC, IPG, SMG, and prefrontal cortex generate motivational signals that modulate drug-related attentional bias and repeated drug self-administration (45, 49, 50). Thus, increased FC within the hippocampus might be associated with experience-dependent changes related to strong memories for alcohol-related cues or responses subsequent to alcohol consumption, rendering individuals vulnerable to frequent or strong cravings for alcohol.
