Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

6.8K

Brain morphometric abnormalities and their associations with affective symptoms in males with methamphetamine use

Xinyue Hu1,2, Ping Jiang1,2,3, Yingxue Gao1,2

  • 1Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Radiology, Huaxi Magnetic Resonance Research Center (HMRRC), West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Frontiers in Psychiatry
|October 27, 2022
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Abstinent males with methamphetamine use disorder exhibit altered brain structure, including increased gyrification in posterior regions and reduced nucleus accumbens volume. This hypergyrification, particularly in the inferior parietal gyrus, correlates with depression and anxiety symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Methamphetamine (METH) use causes neurotoxic effects and persistent affective symptoms during abstinence.
  • Brain morphometry in individuals with METH use disorder (MUD) during abstinence remains unclear.
  • Understanding these changes is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate brain morphometry differences in abstinent males with MUD compared to healthy controls (HCs).
  • To examine associations between brain morphometry and affective symptoms in MUD during abstinence.
  • To identify potential neural substrates for affective symptoms in MUD.

Main Methods:

  • High-resolution T1-weighted MRI was used for 48 abstinent males with MUD and 66 HCs.
  • FreeSurfer software analyzed cortical thickness, surface area, volume, local gyrification index (LGI), and subcortical volumes.
  • Statistical analyses controlled for intracranial volume, age, and education.

Main Results:

  • Individuals with MUD showed higher LGI in several brain regions, including the right inferior parietal gyrus (IPG).
  • A smaller left nucleus accumbens (NAcc) volume was observed in the MUD group.
  • Higher LGI in the right IPG correlated with increased depression and anxiety symptom severity in MUD.

Conclusions:

  • Abstinent MUD is associated with hypergyrification in mid-posterior brain regions and reduced left NAcc volume.
  • Gyrification of the right IPG may represent a neural substrate for affective symptoms in abstinent MUD.
  • These findings highlight specific neurobiological alterations in MUD during abstinence.
Keywords:
abstinenceaffective symptomscortical morphometrymethamphetamine use disordersubcortical volume

More Related Videos

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra05:14

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Published on: September 8, 2021

3.7K
A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration09:16

A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration

Published on: January 22, 2016

15.3K

Related Concept Videos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
157
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena01:15

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
624
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
209