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Chronic Cocaine Use Disrupts Brain Network Communication, Study Finds

A recent collaborative study by researchers at the UNC School of Medicine sheds light on the detrimental effects of continued cocaine use on the functional networks in the brain. The research, titled “Network Connectivity Changes Following Long-Term Cocaine Use and Abstinence,” delves into how chronic cocaine use disrupts communication between key neural networks in the brain, such as the default mode network (DMN), the salience network (SN), and the lateral cortical network (LCN).

Lead author of the study, Li-Ming Hsu, Ph.D., explains that the disrupted communication between the DMN and SN can lead to difficulties in focusing, controlling impulses, and feeling motivated without the drug. These changes can significantly impact an individual’s ability to respond to everyday situations, making recovery and resisting cravings more challenging.

By using a rat model to simulate human addiction patterns, the researchers were able to observe how prolonged cocaine use alters the functioning of critical brain networks. Through functional MRI scans, the team found significant alterations in network communication, particularly between the DMN and SN, following 10 days of self-administered cocaine intake and subsequent abstinence.

The study also highlighted the role of the anterior insular cortex (AI) and retrosplenial cortex (RSC) in cocaine addiction. The AI is responsible for emotional and social processing, while the RSC controls episodic memory, navigation, and imagining future events. The researchers noted differences in the coactivity between these regions before and after cocaine intake, indicating a potential target for modulating behavioral changes associated with cocaine use disorders.

Hsu’s research team’s findings provide valuable insights into the brain processes underlying cocaine addiction and offer opportunities for the development of therapeutic approaches and imaging biomarkers for cocaine use disorders. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding how addictive substances can alter the communication within major brain networks and highlights the potential for targeted interventions to reduce cocaine cravings and support individuals in recovery.

*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it

Money Singh

Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc.