OBJECTIVE

To assess the functional state of large—scale resting networks of the brain in patients with opioid intoxication.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-one male subjects, aged 27.4+5.1 years, were studied. Resting state functional MRI was performed in 12 patients with heroin intoxication aged 29.1+5.9 years. The control group consisted of 16 healthy volunteers without bad habits aged 26.2+4.2 years.

RESULTS

In the group of opioids intoxication, there is a decrease in the functional activity of the salience network with the executive control network and the default mode network of the brain (p<0.05) compared to the control group. A positive correlation of functional connections is found between the anterior cingulate cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex (T=2.74; p=0.041), which is not recorded in the control group. The functional connections between the default mode network and executive control are more highly represented in opioid intoxication in comparison with the control group (medial prefrontal cortex — left posterior parietal cortex T=7.5; p=0.001; medial prefrontal cortex — right posterior parietal cortex T=3.71; p=0.014; posterior cingulate cortex — left posterior parietal cortex T=6.15; p=0.002; posterior cingulate cortex — right posterior parietal cortex T=3.25; p=0.023; posterior cingulate cortex — right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex T=2.83; p=0.037).

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that functional connections in large-scale resting networks are disrupted during opioid intoxication, which indicates a disturbance of the normal functional architectonics of the brain.