Marcelo Febo
University of Florida, USA
Title: Effects of chronic cocaine intake on resting state functional connectivity in mesocorticolimbic circuitry
Biography
Biography: Marcelo Febo
Abstract
In 2013, approximately 1.5 million individuals reported cocaine use. A significant percentage of these users may eventually, or already, suffer from a cocaine use disorder. Disruption of widespread brain network interactions is a key pathological signature in a number of psychiatric illnesses, including cocaine addiction. Neuroimaging studies are providing evidence of significant changes in synchronous neural activity across various brain regions of cocaine users. The specific brain regions showing alterations in functional connectivity differ during drug use, abstinence, and relapse. However, data are needed in preclinical models examining large-scale integrative neurobiological processes associated with compulsive drug use during different stages of drug seeking. We will present data on the effects of chronic cocaine self-administration on functional connectivity in a rat model of drug seeking behavior. Imaging on a 4.7 Tesla MRI scanner will be carried out before and after 10 days of 6 hr daily sessions of intravenous cocaine self-administration. It is expected that a high level of cocaine intake will result in powerful effects on functional connectivity in mesocorticolimbic regions. Extended 6 hr access to cocaine may disrupt normal functional connectivity patterns among these structures more severely than with standard 2 hr daily access to the drug. In addition to characterizing functional connectivity changes as a result of cocaine self-administration, we will build on these initial studies to determine whether restings rare functional MRI and functional connectivity analysis can act as a measure or biomarker of efficacy of potential addiction treatments.