Aberrance in default mode and executive network activity underlie working memory deficits in addictive disorders: A preliminary, exploratory case-control study

Addiction can alter neural processes during rest and cognitive performance. Subjects with addictive disorders exhibit preoccupation and anticipation for the psychoactive substance when idle and cognitive deficits, during tasks.

128 channel EEG was recorded in sixty subjects (30, with alcohol, opioid and internet addiction; 30 controls) during rest and while performing working memory task to ascertain underlying differences in cortical activity between the groups while at rest and during performance of the task. Artifactually clean data was then subjected to source analysis using sLORETA software in both the groups.

EEG cortical source analysis in subjects with addictive disorders showed significant activation of areas of Default Mode Network (DMN) and reduced activation in dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFC), an area known to be involved in executive function, during performance of task. However, control subjects demonstrated significantly reduced activation in areas of DMN; and increased activation of DLPFC during task performance.

Inability to suppress DMN inhibits reallocation of neural resources to areas of executive functioning leading to working memory deficits in subjects with addictive disorder.