Neuroimaging biomarkers of addiction

Abstract

As a neurobiological process, addiction involves pathological patterns of engagement with substances and a range of behaviors with a chronic and relapsing course. Neuroimaging technologies assess brain activity, structure, physiology, and metabolism at scales ranging from neurotransmitter receptors to large-scale brain networks, providing unique windows into the core neural processes implicated in substance use disorders. Identified aberrations in the neural substrates of reward and salience processing, response inhibition, interoception, and executive functions with neuroimaging can inform the development of pharmacological, neuromodulatory, and psychotherapeutic interventions to modulate the disordered neurobiology. Closed- or open-loop interventions can integrate these biomarkers with neuromodulation in real time or offline to personalize stimulation parameters and deliver precise intervention. This Analysis provides an overview of neuroimaging modalities in addiction medicine, potential neuroimaging biomarkers, and their physiologic and clinical relevance. Future directions and challenges in bringing these putative biomarkers from the bench to the bedside are also discussed. In this Analysis, the authors survey protocols involving fMRI, PET, EEG, and MRS to identify potential biomarkers that may be associated with vulnerability, treatment response, and recovery and that may present future interventional targets.