A resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging study of the functional change of default mode network in heroin addicts

Objective To investigate the functional imaging alteration of default mode network (DMN) and its significance in heroin addicts by using the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology and independent component analysis (ICA). Methods Resting state fMRI data of 14 heroin addicts and 14 normal controls were analyzed by using ICA, and then the difference of functional connectivity in the DMN was acquired by analyzing the data of intra-group and inter-group respectively. Results Compared with the normal controls, heroin addicts showed decreased functional connectivity in the medial superior frontal gyrus (t=-2.61), anterior cingutate cortex (t=-3.32) and cuneus (tleft=-3.49, tright=-3.40); and increased functional connectivity in the posterior cingulate cortex (t=4.55), precuneus (tleft=4.31, tright=3.54) and angular gyrus (tleft=2.57, tright=6.39) in the DMN (all P<0.05). Conclusion The DMN of heroin addicts may have abnormal functional connectivity at resting state. Key words: Heroin dependence; Magnetic resonance imaging; Resting state; Default mode network; Independent component analysis