Brain Activation Elicited by Affectively Positive Stimuli Is Associated With a Lower Risk of Relapse in Detoxified Alcoholic Subjects

摘要: Background: Stimuli that are regularly associated with alcohol intake (AI) may acquire incentive salience, while other reinforcers can be devalued. We assessed whether brain activation elicited by (1) associated, (2) affectively positive, and (3) negative versus neutral stimuli is the subsequent risk of relapse. Methods: Twelve detoxified alcoholic subjects (6 women 6 men) 12 age-matched gender-matched healthy control were functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) a fast single-event paradigm using standardized affective alcohol-associated pictures. Patients followed for months AI was recorded. Results: In subjects, compared alcohol-related visual increased in prefrontal (PFC; BA 10) cingulate cortex (BA 23 24), precuneus adjacent parietal cortex; positive anterior (ACC; PFC 10), ventral striatum thalamus; 10). Seven relapsed. Within follow-up period months, number drinking days (DD) amount inversely correlated thalamus (DD: r=−0.63, p=0.03; AI: p=0.03) r=−0.60, p=0.04; r=−0.48, p=0.11). Conclusions: this study, briefly presented not prospective relapse. Unexpectedly, displayed limbic during presentation but stimuli, which reflect protective factor subjects.