Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation modulates coupling among large‐scale brain networks in heroin‐dependent individuals: A randomized resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

• Published in: Addiction biology Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. e13121 - n/a
• Main Authors: Jin, Long, Yuan, Menghui, Zhang, Wei, Su, Hang, Wang, Fan, Zhu, Jia, Liu, Tao, Wei, Yixin, Li, Yunbo, Bai, Qianrong, Wang, Wei, Wei, Longxiao, Li, Qiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Addictions; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain mapping; Cortex (cingulate); Cortex (parietal); Craving - physiology; Executive function; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Heroin; Humans; Magnetic fields; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neuroimaging; Parahippocampal gyrus; Precentral gyrus; Prefrontal cortex; Prefrontal Cortex - diagnostic imaging; repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; resting‐state magnetic resonance imaging; Transcranial magnetic stimulation; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation - methods; resting-state magnetic resonance imaging; heroin; repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
• ISSN: 1355-6215; 1369-1600; 1369-1600
• DOI: 10.1111/adb.13121

The abnormal interactions of three key large‐scale brain networks (default mode [DMN], salience and executive control [ECN]) were showed underlie dysfunctions in heroin addiction. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a potential treatment for heroin addiction. It is unclear whether impaired coupling among the large‐scale brain networks would be improved by rTMS in treated heroin‐dependent individuals. Thirty‐five heroin‐dependent individuals were included in this sham‐controlled, randomized study. The patients received either active or sham rTMS for 1 week. The craving for heroin and resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected before and after 1‐week rTMS. Twenty‐two healthy subjects were included as controls not receiving rTMS. After 1‐week rTMS, only the active rTMS group showed a significant decrease in spontaneous and heroin cue‐induced craving. The coupling between left DLPFC (a key node of left ECN) and left parahippocampal gyrus (PHG, included in DMN) significantly increased for the active group with a tendency towards that of controls. The coupling between the right precentral gyrus and three key regions included in DMN (posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus and bilateral inferior parietal cortex) significantly decreased for the active group with a tendency towards that of healthy controls. For the active rTMS individuals, the left DLPFC‐PHG coupling negatively correlated with the spontaneous craving and the drug cue‐induced craving. It suggested that the rTMS could reduce heroin craving, which might be related to the modulation of ECN‐DMN coupling. This finding might shed light on the mechanism of rTMS for heroin addiction treatment. It is unclear whether impaired coupling among the large‐scale brain networks (default mode [DMN], salience and executive control [ECN]) would be improved by rTMS in treated heroin‐dependent individuals. Our data suggested that the rTMS could reduce heroin craving, which might be related to the modulation of ECN‐DMN coupling. This finding might shed light on the mechanism of rTMS for heroin addicti1on treatment.