Disruption of Orbitofronto-Striatal Functional Connectivity Underlies Maladaptive Persistent Behaviors in Alcohol-Dependent Patients.
- Author:
Seojung LEE
1
;
Eun LEE
;
Jeonghun KU
;
Kang Jun YOON
;
Kee NAMKOONG
;
Young Chul JUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. eugenejung@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Alcohol;
Medial orbitofrontal cortex;
Dorsal striatum;
Decision-making;
fMRI
- MeSH:
Alcoholics*;
Alcoholism;
Brain;
Decision Making;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- From:Psychiatry Investigation
2013;10(3):266-272
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Alcohol dependence is characterized by persistent alcohol-seeking despite negative consequences. Previous studies suggest that maladaptive persistent behaviors reflect alcohol-induced brain changes that cause alterations in the cortico-striatal-limbic circuit. METHODS: Twenty one alcohol dependent patients and 24 age-matched healthy controls performed a decision-making task during functional MRI. We defined the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) as a region-of-interest and performed seed-based functional connectivity analysis. RESULTS: Healthy controls were more flexible in adapting an alternative behavioral strategy, which correlated with stronger mOFC-dorsal striatum functional connectivity. In contrast, alcohol dependent patients persisted to the first established behavioral strategy. The mOFC-dorsal striatum functional connectivity was impaired in the alcohol-dependent patients, but increased in correlation with the duration of abstinence. CONCLUSION: Our findings support that the disruption of the mOFC-striatal circuitry contribute to the maldaptive persistent behaviors in alcohol dependent patients.
