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Brain fMRI and craving response to heroin-related cues in patients on methadone maintenance treatment

  • Wei Wang*
  • , Qiang Li
  • , Yarong Wang
  • , Jie Tian
  • , Weichuan Yang
  • , Wei Li
  • , Wei Qin
  • , Kai Yuan
  • , Jixin Liu
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the subjective craving and brain response to heroin-related cues in former heroin addicts on long-term methadone maintenance treatment. Methods: Fourteen participants completed an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging task including heroin-related and nonheroin-related (neutral) cues. Craving self-reports were collected before and after the task. Results: Although no significant craving changes were associated with the task, blood oxygen-level dependence intensity was significantly greater during exposure to heroin-related cues, compared to neutral cues in brain areas studied. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: The results indicate that the learned brain response of former heroin addicts to drug-related stimuli may persist despite long-term methadone maintenance treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)123-130
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Volume37
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2011
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

  • Cravings
  • Drug-related cues
  • FMRI
  • Heroin addiction
  • MMT

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