Striatal activation and frontostriatal connectivity during non‐drug reward anticipation in alcohol dependence

• DOI: 10.1111/adb.12352
• Publication Date: 2016-01-11T08:49:05Z
• Authors: Alena Becker; Martina Kirsch; Martin Fungisai G...; Falk Kiefer; Peter Kirsch
• Keywords: Anticipation (artificial intelligence); Ventral striatum; Incentive salience; Salience (neuroscience); Alcohol Dependence; Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; Reward system

According to prevailing neurobiological theories of addiction, altered function in neural reward circuitry is a central mechanism alcohol dependence. Growing evidence postulates that the ventral striatum (VS), as well areas prefrontal cortex, contribute increased incentive salience alcohol-associated cues, diminished motivation pursue non-drug rewards and weakened strength inhibitory cognitive control, which are addiction. The present study aims investigate response functional connectivity underlying monetary, processing We utilized paradigm anticipation monetary 32 alcohol-dependent inpatients 35 healthy controls. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used measure task-related brain activation connectivity. Alcohol-dependent patients showed VS during gain compared with Generalized psychophysiological interaction analyses revealed decreased between dorsolateral cortex dependent relative Increased reduced frontostriatal were associated craving. These findings provide dependence rather disrupted integration striatal processes than global deficit.