Prefrontal functional connectivity measured with near‐infrared spectroscopy during smoking cue exposure. (21st December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kroczek, Agnes M.; Haeussinger, Florian B.; Fallgatter, Andreas J.; Batra, Anil; Ehlis, Ann‐Christine
• Is Part Of: Addiction biology. Volume 22:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 513
• Page End: 522
• Publication Date: 2015-12-21
• Subjects: craving -- dlPFC -- fNIRS -- OFC -- smoking cue exposure; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1111/adb.12344
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-6215

Abstract

Abstract: Cue reactivity (CR) is an important concept for relapse in substance use disorders (SUD). Although cue exposure (CE) therapy is discussed as relapse prevention, current approaches still need improvement considering its efficacy. From a neurobiological perspective, CR is related to an over‐activation in sensitized subcortical structures, their projections to motivationally relevant cortical structures (e.g. orbitofrontal cortex, OFC) and deficient prefrontal inhibitory control. Therefore, we analyzed prefrontal cortical activation and its relation to craving during smoking CE. We focused on the OFC—as a projection area of sensitized subcortical structures—due its importance in the processing of reinforcement value and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) based on its importance for behavioral inhibition. Functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to assess hemodynamics in prefrontal regions during smoking CE in 24 subjects ( n = 12 occasional smokers, n = 12 controls). Subjective craving intensity (minimum craving as marker of baseline inhibition, range as marker of inhibition time course) was additionally assessed. Craving ratings indicated that CR was elicited solely in smokers, not controls. Those subjective ratings correlated with hemodynamic activity in OFC (craving range) and dlPFC (minimum craving). OFC activation was found earlier throughout the CE in smokers compared to controls. Connectivity (seed‐based correlation) between OFC and dlPFC was increased in smokers. fNIRS can capture prefrontal hemodynamic activity involved in CR elicited during CE and is therefore a promising method to investigate CR and its implications for relapse prevention in SUD. Abstract : We investigated cue reactivity in smokers during smoking cue exposure by means of changes in the prefrontal cortex (assessed by functional near‐infrared spectroscopy) and subjective craving ratings. During the time course of the cue exposure, smokers showed increased craving ratings. Changes in craving (range) correlated with hemodynamics in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), while the reported minimum craving for each subject correlated with hemodynamics in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Connectivity between OFC and dlPFC was increased in smokers compared with controls.