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Published on: January 22, 2016
Differences in orbitofrontal activation during decision-making between methadone-maintained opiate users, heroin
Karen D Ersche1, Paul C Fletcher, Jonathan P Roiser
1Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Brain Mapping Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. ke220@cam.ac.uk
Psychopharmacology
|September 6, 2006
Summary
Methadone users showed greater lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) activation and risk-taking behavior compared to heroin users. This suggests altered penalty integration in opiate users, impacting decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Addiction Research
- Decision-Making Studies
Background:
- Opiate users in methadone treatment previously demonstrated riskier choices post-loss compared to heroin users and controls.
- This behavior may stem from reduced sensitivity to punishment in methadone users.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural underpinnings of risky decision-making in methadone and heroin users.
- To explore differences in brain activation patterns related to punishment sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- Post hoc analysis of positron emission tomography (PET) data.
- Comparison of brain activity in lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) between methadone users, heroin users, and healthy controls.
- Correlational analysis linking brain activation to drug dosage and duration of use.
Main Results:
- Methadone users exhibited over-activation in the lateral OFC, correlating with riskier choices and methadone dose.
- Heroin users showed under-activation in the lateral OFC, correlating with safer choices and duration of heroin use.
- Controls showed correlations between 'playing safe' and activation in pregenual anterior cingulate and insula cortex, absent in opiate users.
Conclusions:
- Opiate use alters the integration of penalty information for response selection.
- Differential patterns of OFC activation reflect the specific opiate used (methadone vs. heroin).
- Findings highlight neurobiological differences in decision-making processes between different opiate user groups.
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