Dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex in addiction: neuroimaging findings and clinical implications

• Published in: Nature reviews. Neuroscience Vol. 12; no. 11; pp. 652 - 669
• Main Authors: Goldstein, Rita Z., Volkow, Nora D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.11.2011; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/378/1457/1945; 692/700/1421/65; Addictions; Addictive behaviors; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Behavior, Addictive - physiopathology; Behavioral Sciences; Biological Techniques; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Care and treatment; Cocaine; Dopamine; Drug abuse; Executive function; Executive Function - physiology; Health aspects; Humans; Laboratory animals; Medical imaging; Neurobiology; Neuroimaging; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; Prefrontal Cortex - physiopathology; review-article; Reward; Risk factors; Substance-Related Disorders - physiopathology; United States; United States > US; Maryland

Key Points Neuroimaging studies have revealed an emerging pattern of generalized prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction in drug-addicted individuals that is associated with worse outcome — more drug use, worse PFC-related task performance and greater likelihood of relapse. Widespread PFC activation in...