The study of the structure and function in the posterior cingulated cortex to heroin abuser by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Objective To explore the abnormalities in the posterior cingulated cortex structure by voxel based morphometry(VBM)and changes of functional connectivity by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)in long-term heroin addictions.Methods High-resolution volumetric T1-weighted images and resting state fMRI examination were performed on 13 long-term heroin addicts and 14 matched healthy volunteers.The T1-weighted images were processed using optimized voxel-based morphometry to investigate abnormalities in the gray matter,at the sarne time,the posterior cingulated cortex was setted as the region-of-interest(ROI)seed,with which a whole-brain voxel temporal correlation in low frequency fMRI fluctuations was calculated,to find changes of the posterior cingulated cortex functional connectivity.Results Compared with the control group,gray matter concentration significantly decreased in the posterior cingnlated cortex,at the same time,the functional connectivity between the left posterior cingulated cortex and the right temporal lobe was increased,but the functional connectivity between the left posterior eingulated cortex and the left thalamus,the left parietal lobe,the left cerebrum were all decreased in heroin addicts.At the same time,the functional connectivity between the fight posterior cingulated cortex and the left thalamus,the left parietal lobe,the left frontal lobe were decreased in heroin addicts(t testing,P<0.01).Conclusion The structure and the functional connectivity in posterior cingulated cortex in long-term heroin addicts are changed,which may affect the dysfunction of the addictive brain and the function of reward mechanism. Key words: Heroin addict; Posterior cingulated cortex; Voxel-based morphometry; Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging