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Mapping Morphological Similarity Network and Neurotransmitter Abnormalities in Cocaine Use Disorder: A Multimodal
Dafa Shi1, Shuohua Wu1, Caiyu Zhuang2
1Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
Current Neuropharmacology
|July 1, 2026
Summary
Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) shows altered brain networks and neurotransmitter systems, offering new therapeutic targets. These findings link brain structure changes to neurotransmitter imbalances in CUD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) is a significant public health issue lacking FDA-approved treatments.
- Understanding brain alterations in CUD is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate abnormal Morphometric Similarity Network (MSN) patterns in CUD.
- To explore the relationship between MSN alterations and neurotransmitter distributions in CUD.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study compared 70 CUD patients with 57 healthy controls (HCs).
- Individual MSNs were constructed, and regional morphometric similarity (MS) strength was calculated.
- The JuSpace toolbox analyzed correlations between MS alterations and neurotransmitter maps.
Main Results:
- Disrupted MSN connectivity was found in CUD patients, affecting key brain regions like the prefrontal cortex and striatum.
- Abnormalities in regional MS strength correlated with serotonergic, dopaminergic, glutamatergic, GABAergic, and cholinergic systems.
- These correlations were linked to CUD severity and cocaine use frequency.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals co-altered gray matter morphometric covariance and neurotransmitter interactions in CUD.
- These findings provide insights into CUD's neuropathology and identify potential therapeutic targets.
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