The neural correlates of the unified percept of alcohol-related craving: a fMRI and EEG study.
- Authors
- Huang, Yuefeng; Mohan, Anusha; De Ridder, Dirk; Sunaert, Stefan; Vanneste, Sven
- Year
- 2018
- Journal
- Scientific reports
- PMID
- 29343732
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41598-017-18471-y
- PMCID
- PMC5772563
Alcohol addiction is accompanied by aberrant neural activity. Previously, task-based fMRI and resting-state EEG studies have revealed that craving, a critical component of addiction, is linked to abnormal activity in cortical regions including the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), nucleus accumbens (NAcc), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), etc. In this study, we combine these two imaging techniques to investigate a group of alcohol-addicted patients and provide convergent evidence for the neural correlates of craving not only in alcohol but substance abuse in general. We observe abnormal BOLD signal levels in the dACC, NAcc, pgACC, PCC, amygdala, and parahippocampus (PHC) in a cue-reactivity fMRI experiment. These findings are consistent with increased beta-band activity in the dACC and pgACC in resting-state EEG. We further observe desynchronization characterized by decreased functional connectivity in cue-based fMRI and hypersynchronization characterized by increased functional connectivity between these regions in the theta frequency band. The results of our study show a consistent pattern of alcohol craving elicited by external cues and internal desires. Given the advantage of superior spatial and temporal resolution, we hypothesize a "central craving network" that integrates the different aspects of alcohol addiction into a unified percept.
Increased (red) and decreased (blue) BOLD signal on viewing images of alcoholic beverages compared to viewing images of non-alcoholic beverages. dmPFC = dorsal medial prefrontal cortex; pgACC = pregenual anterior cingulate cortex; AG = angular gyrus; PHC = parahippocampus; AMG = amygdala; OTG = occipitotemporal gyrus; NAcc/VS = nucleus accumbens/ ventral striatum; OFC = orbital frontal cortex; PCC = posterior cingulate cortex; dACC = dorsal anterior cingulate cortex; HIP = hippocampus.
LLM interpretation
This figure consists of eight fMRI brain slices (A-H) showing regions of increased (red/yellow) and decreased (blue) BOLD signal when viewing alcoholic versus non-alcoholic beverages. Increased activation is labeled in several regions, including the dmPFC, pgACC, AG, PHC, AMG, OFC, dACC, Thalamus, and HIP. Decreased activation is visible in the OTG, Insula, NAcc/VS, PCC, and Cerebellum, with signal intensity mapped to a color scale ranging from -4 to 6.
Increased BOLD signal on viewing images of alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages compared to viewing control images. MPG = medial fontal gyrus; FG = fusiform gyrus; IFG = inferior frontal gyrus.
LLM interpretation
This figure consists of six sagittal fMRI brain slices showing areas of increased BOLD signal, represented by a heat map ranging from red to yellow. Labeled regions of activation include the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), precuneus, medial frontal gyrus (MFG), cerebellum, and fusiform gyrus (FG). The x-axis coordinates for each slice are provided (X=-50, -24, -2, -4, -28, and 36), with a color scale on the right indicating signal intensity.
Changes in functional connectivity strength between on viewing alcoholic beverage images compared to viewing non-alcoholic beverage images based on cue-reactivity fMRI. Regions of interest on the right are shown in light green; regions of interest on the left are shown in dark green. Significantly increased connectivity is depicted in red and significantly decreased connectivity is depicted in blue.
LLM interpretation
This figure consists of a 3D brain rendering and a corresponding network diagram showing changes in functional connectivity between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage image viewing. The visualization uses red lines to indicate significantly increased connectivity and blue lines to indicate significantly decreased connectivity between various regions of interest (ROIs). ROIs in the right hemisphere are colored light green, while those in the left hemisphere are dark green.
Increased resting-state EEG activity (red) for alcohol addicted patients compared to a normative databased in beta2 (18.5β21 Hz), beta3 (21.5β30 Hz) and gamma (30.5β44 Hz) frequency bands.
LLM interpretation
This figure consists of brain surface maps showing resting-state EEG activity across three frequency bands: Beta 2 (18.5β21 Hz), Beta 3 (21.5β30 Hz), and Gamma (30.5β44 Hz). Red-to-yellow heatmaps indicate areas of increased activity in alcohol-addicted patients compared to a normative database, with a color scale ranging from 1.97 to 2.45. The visualizations display both lateral and medial views for the left (L) and right (R) hemispheres.
Increased functional connectivity in the theta (4β7.5 Hz) frequency band for alcohol patients compared to a normative database. Increased functional connectivity is depicted by the red lines.
LLM interpretation
This figure consists of two 3D brain renderings (lateral and superior views) illustrating functional connectivity. Red lines represent increased functional connectivity in the theta (4β7.5 Hz) frequency band for alcohol patients compared to a normative database. The lines map specific connections between different cortical regions across both hemispheres.
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
| acamprosate | drug |
| addicted state local | phenotype |
| addiction | phenotype |
| aggression | phenotype |
| alcohol | phenotype |
| alcohol abuse | phenotype |
| Alcohol-addicted cohort local | cohort |
| alcohol addicted participants local | cohort |
| Alcohol-addicted patient cohort local | cohort |
| Alcohol addicted patients local | cohort |
| Alcohol addiction patients local | cohort |
| Alcohol Addiction Patients local | cohort |
| Alcohol addicts local | cohort |
| alcohol dependence | phenotype |
| Alcoholic beverage cues local | drug |
| alcoholism | phenotype |
| alcohol tolerance | phenotype |
| Alcohol Use | phenotype |
| Alcohol Use Disorder | phenotype |
| allostasis local | phenotype |
| alpha1 band local | phenotype |
| alpha2 band local | phenotype |
| alpha oscillations | phenotype |
| amnesia | phenotype |
| amygdala | anatomy |
| angular gyrus | anatomy |
| anterior cingulate cortex | anatomy |
| Antwerp University Hospital local | cohort |
| anxiety | phenotype |
| arousal | phenotype |
| associative learning | phenotype |
| autonomic nervous system local | anatomy |
| behavioral flexibility | phenotype |
| beta1 band local | phenotype |
| beta2 band local | phenotype |
| beta3 band local | phenotype |
| beta-band EEG local | phenotype |
| binge drinking | phenotype |
| BOLD signal | phenotype |
| BOLD signal activity local | phenotype |
| brain structure | anatomy |
| BRL database local | cohort |
| BSA acquisition system local | drug |
| caffeine | drug |
| central craving network local | anatomy |
| Central craving network local | anatomy |
| cerebellum | anatomy |
| Cerebellum Posterior Lobe local | anatomy |
| chronic pain | phenotype |
| cortex | anatomy |
| craving | phenotype |
| craving network local | anatomy |
| cue-based fMRI paradigm local | phenotype |
| Cue-reactivity local | phenotype |
| dACC | anatomy |
| decreased control over drinking local | phenotype |
| delta band | phenotype |
| depression | phenotype |
| Desire of alcohol local | phenotype |
| dopamine | drug |
| dorsolateral prefrontal cortex | anatomy |
| dorsomedial prefrontal cortex | anatomy |
| drinks per week | phenotype |
| drowsiness | phenotype |
| EEG | phenotype |
| EEG functional connectivity local | anatomy |
| emotional and cognitive processes local | phenotype |
| emotional component local | phenotype |
| endogenous opioids | drug |
| excessive alcohol consumption | phenotype |
| executive function | phenotype |
| fever | phenotype |
| fMRI functional connectivity local | anatomy |
| frontal pole | anatomy |
| fronto-limbic | anatomy |
| frontopolar cortex | anatomy |
| frontoposterior region local | anatomy |
| frontostriatal regions local | anatomy |
| frontotemporal region local | anatomy |
| functional connectivity | phenotype |
| fusiform gyrus | anatomy |
| gamma band | phenotype |
| habenula | anatomy |
| headache | phenotype |
| Healthy cohort local | cohort |
| healthy controls | cohort |
| heavy drinking college students local | cohort |
| hippocampus | anatomy |
| ICA component rejection local | drug |
| incentive salience | phenotype |
| Increased consumption local | phenotype |
| inferior frontal gyrus | anatomy |
| insula | anatomy |
| left AG local | anatomy |
| left dmPFC local | anatomy |
| left inferior frontal gyrus | anatomy |
| left orbitofrontal cortex local | anatomy |
| left parahippocampus local | anatomy |
| left PHC local | anatomy |
| limbic lobe | anatomy |
| limbic regions | anatomy |
| medial frontal cortex | anatomy |
| middle frontal gyrus | anatomy |
| middle lateral PFC local | anatomy |
| middle lateral prefrontal cortex local | anatomy |
| mood disorders | phenotype |
| mood problems local | phenotype |
| Mood problems local | phenotype |
| NAcc | anatomy |
| naltrexone | drug |
| neocortex | anatomy |
| Neurometrics, Inc. local | drug |
| non-alcoholic beverage local | drug |
| Non-alcoholic beverage cues local | drug |
| non-alcoholic beverages local | drug |
| Non-alcoholic beverages local | drug |
| normative database local | cohort |
| nucleus accumbens | anatomy |
| Occipitotemporal gyrus local | anatomy |
| orbitofrontal cortex | anatomy |
| parahippocampal gyrus | anatomy |
| participants | cohort |
| pathological craving local | phenotype |
| Pathological craving local | phenotype |
| patient group | cohort |
| patients | cohort |
| Patients with alcohol addiction local | cohort |
| Patients with Alcohol Addiction local | cohort |
| patients with alcohol dependency local | cohort |
| Patients with alcohol dependency local | cohort |
| PCC | anatomy |
| perigenual anterior cingulate cortex local | anatomy |
| personality disorders | phenotype |
| pgACC local | anatomy |
| pgACC/vmPFC local | anatomy |
| positive reinforcement | phenotype |
| posterior cingulate cortex | anatomy |
| precuneus | anatomy |
| pregenual anterior cingulate cortex local | anatomy |
| Pregenual anterior cingulate cortex local | anatomy |
| Pregenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex local | anatomy |
| relapse | phenotype |
| relief drinking | phenotype |
| Relief-drinking local | phenotype |
| repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation | drug |
| repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) local | drug |
| resting-state EEG local | phenotype |
| restlessness | phenotype |
| reward | phenotype |
| reward-based decision making | phenotype |
| Reward drinking local | phenotype |
| reward system | anatomy |
| right inferior frontal gyrus | anatomy |
| right orbitofrontal cortex | anatomy |
| right OTG local | anatomy |
| salience network | anatomy |
| schizophrenia | phenotype |
| self-referential state local | phenotype |
| Sleep disturbance | phenotype |
| Spindles local | phenotype |
| stress | phenotype |
| striatum | anatomy |
| Study cohort (N=11) local | cohort |
| subcortical regions | anatomy |
| substance abuse | phenotype |
| substance addiction disorder local | phenotype |
| substance craving local | phenotype |
| substance use | phenotype |
| task-based fMRI local | phenotype |
| temporal lobe | anatomy |
| thalamus | anatomy |
| theta band | phenotype |
| theta frequency band local | anatomy |
| theta oscillations | phenotype |
| tinnitus | phenotype |
| tolerance | phenotype |
| treatment resistance local | phenotype |
| ventral striatum | anatomy |
| ventral tegmental area | anatomy |
| ventrolateral prefrontal cortex | anatomy |
| ventromedial prefrontal cortex | anatomy |
| visual artifact rejection local | drug |
| VS | anatomy |
| VTA | anatomy |
| whole brain | anatomy |
| withdrawal | phenotype |
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