Alcohol Use Disorder-associated Structural and Functional Characteristics of the Insula

Overview

Journal J Neurosci Res

Specialty Neurology

Date 2022 Aug 10

PMID 35946335

Authors

Thushini Manuweera

Mallory A Kisner

Erika Almira

Reza Momenan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Based on our current understanding of insular regions, effects of chronic alcohol use on the insula may affect the integration of sensory-motor, socio-emotional, and cognitive function. There is no comprehensive understanding about these differences in individuals with alcohol use disorder that accounts for both structural and functional differences related to chronic alcohol use. The purpose of this study was to investigate these variations in both the anterior and posterior insula in persons with alcohol use disorder. We investigated insula gray matter volume, morphometry, white matter structural connectivity, and resting state functional connectivity in 75 participants with alcohol use disorder (females = 27) and 75 age-matched healthy control participants (females = 39). Results indicated structural differences mostly in the anterior regions, while functional connectivity differences were observed in both the anterior and posterior insula in those with alcohol use disorder. Differing connectivity was observed with frontal, parietal, occipital, cingulate, cerebellar, and temporal brain regions. While these results align with prior studies showing differences primarily in anterior insular regions, they also contribute to the existing literature suggesting differences in anterior insular connectivity with brain regions shown to be engaged during higher cognitive and emotional tasks.

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