An introduction to 'The addiction connectome: Brain connectivity in drug and alcohol addiction'

摘要

One of the most exciting advances in our understanding of brain functioning over the past two decades is the mapping of the human brain "connectome," or the brain's integrated neural circuitry, through which we have learned about the brain's connectivity. Brain connectivity can be evaluated in terms of integrity of white matter fiber tracts (structural) or temporal correlation of neural signals across brain regions (functional). In addiction research, atypical brain connectivity has been observed in various substance abusing groups (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, marijuana) across the lifespan (i.e., adolescents, adults) as well as in those considered sub-clinical or at-risk. This special issue highlights advancements in our knowledge of the "addiction connectome" (i.e., the neural structural and functional wiring in the addicted brain) and its role in the development and maintenance of addiction. These invited papers demonstrate the multiple dimensions by which addiction research has informed current knowledge through various approaches in brain connectivity (e.g., independent component analysis [ICA]; psychophysiological interaction [PPI]; diffusion tensor imaging [DTI]).