Abnormalities and plasticity of white matter functional networks in opioid use disorder: a BOLD fMRI study
Wenhan Yang, Yifan Li, Xinwen Wen, Longtao Yang, Jun Zhang, Kai Yuan, Jun LiuAbstract
Background
This study investigated the architecture and neural activity of white matter functional networks (WMFNs) in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) after prolonged abstinence, compared with healthy controls (HCs).
Methods
Blood oxygen level-dependent signals in white matter were analyzed using a data-driven k-means clustering approach across individuals with OUD at baseline (OUD1), the same individuals after prolonged abstinence at follow-up (OUD2), and HCs.
Results
In OUD1, the deep frontoparietal network was fragmented into the superior longitudinal fasciculus network and anterior corona radiata network; this organization partially recovered in OUD2, becoming more similar to HCs. OUD1 also showed hyperactivation in the deep frontal network and hypoactivation in the frontotemporal-parietal network, with frontotemporal-parietal activity negatively correlated with years of opioid use.
Conclusions
OUD is associated with disrupted architecture of WMFNs and altered neural activity, whereas prolonged abstinence may promote partial network restoration. These findings highlight the neuroplastic potential of WMFNs during recovery and provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying OUD and abstinence-related rehabilitation.