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Published on: February 20, 2019
Altered paralimbic interaction in behavioral addiction
Kristine Rømer Thomsen1, Morten Joensson, Hans C Lou
1Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
Summary
Pathological gamblers exhibit increased impulsivity and altered brain activity in paralimbic regions. These abnormalities in the anterior cingulate and posterior cingulate cortices are linked to poor self-control and may persist despite stimulant abuse history.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Magnetoencephalography enables studying electromagnetic signaling in deep paralimbic cortical structures.
- The medial prefrontal/anterior cingulate (ACC) and medial parietal/posterior cingulate (PCC) cortices are implicated in self-awareness and self-control.
- Pathological gambling is characterized by poor self-control, suggesting potential dysfunction in these paralimbic regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that paralimbic cortical structures are dysfunctional in pathological gambling.
- To examine the role of the ACC and PCC in impulsivity and self-control deficits in pathological gamblers.
- To differentiate the effects of pathological gambling from those of previous stimulant abuse on paralimbic network activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure brain activity in pathological gamblers and controls.
- Employed a stop-signal task to assess impulsivity and self-control.
- Analyzed resting-state and task-based high gamma range (55-100 Hz) synchronization and power in the ACC and PCC.
Main Results:
- Pathological gamblers demonstrated higher impulsivity than controls.
- Reduced resting-state gamma synchronization was observed in pathological gamblers compared to controls.
- Pathological gamblers failed to show increased gamma synchronization during a task, unlike controls.
- Subgroup analysis revealed distinct patterns of PCC and ACC activity related to stimulant abuse history.
Conclusions:
- Pathological gambling is associated with impulsivity and functional paralimbic abnormalities independent of stimulant abuse history.
- Previous stimulant abuse significantly impacts oscillatory brain activity in the ACC and PCC, suggesting long-term neurotoxic effects.
- Further longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate the long-term consequences of dopaminergic drug exposure on brain function in pathological gambling.
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