| Objective: In order to explore the neuromechanism of alcohol addiction, we useindependent component analysis(ICA) and seed-based correlation analysis approachof resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rfMRI) to investigate thedifferences of default mode network(DMN) and the functional connectivity (FC) inthe brain region of DMN in alcohol addicts from non-addicted controls, as well as theFC’s relationship to the clinical variables.Methods: Thirty alcohol addicts and thirty age, gender, the extent of educationand nicotine dependence matched controls were experienced rfMRI scans in3.0TMRI scanner, while the BOLD signal was acquired to calculate ICA to extract theDMN of each group and compute the FC between the different region in DMN of twogroup and the whole brain. Finally, linear correlations were performed between thestrength of FC and the score of clinical variables.Results: In contrast to controls, the alcohol addicts show reduced DMNconnectivity in the right precuneus and left cerebellum crus Ⅱ, while enhancedconnectivity in the left posterior cingulate, right middle temporal gyrus, right superiortemporal gyrus and right precuneus; Compared with controls, patients group’s leftcerebellum crus Ⅱ exhibited decreased functional connectivity with bilateralprecuneus, right medial frontal gyrus，left superior frontal gyrus, while enhancedfunctional connectivity with left cerebellum Ⅵ, bilareral insula, bilareral inferiorparietal lobule. Besides, the strength of functional connectivity in patients groupbetween left cerebellum crus Ⅱ and bilareral insula was positively correlated withthe years of alcohol use.Conclusion: The function of DMN was abnormal in alcohol addicts and theneural circuits in which the left cerebellum crus Ⅱ of DMN is involved wereimpaired too. Coupled with the result of correlation analysis, we conclude that therfMRI have a certain extent of value to expose the complicated neuromechanism of alcohol addiction and to assess clinical symptoms. |
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