Prefrontal and temporal gray matter density decreases in opiate dependence
In Kyoon Lyoo1, Mark H Pollack, Marisa M Silveri
1McLean Hospital Brain Imaging Center and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA. inkylyoo@yahoo.com
Psychopharmacology
|December 22, 2005
Summary
Opiate dependence is linked to reduced gray matter density in key brain areas like the prefrontal and temporal cortex. These structural brain changes may underlie cognitive and behavioral issues in individuals with opiate use disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Limited structural brain-imaging studies exist for opiate-dependent individuals.
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) is effective for whole-brain analysis in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gray matter density differences in opiate-dependent subjects compared to healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was employed.
- Compared gray matter density in 63 opiate-dependent subjects and 46 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Opiate-dependent subjects showed decreased gray matter density in bilateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann areas 8, 9, 10, 11, 47).
- Reductions were also observed in the bilateral insula (BA 13), bilateral superior temporal cortex (BA 21, 38), left fusiform cortex (BA 37), and right uncus (BA 28).
Conclusions:
- Opiate dependence is associated with gray matter density reductions in prefrontal and temporal cortical regions.
- These structural brain changes may correlate with behavioral and neuropsychological deficits observed in opiate-dependent individuals.
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