Functional neuroimagery for the assessment of patients suffering from addiction

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) have widespread consequences for individuals’ health and well-being. This thesis uses the powerful tool of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the effects of alcohol abstinence on brain function in individuals with AUD. Through fMRI, alterations in neural activity related to alcohol stimuli are examined. The study involves 73 participants in three scanning sessions, providing insights into changes during abstinence. The thesis encompasses a theoretical background on fMRI and AUD, experimental setup, data processing, and analysis. The analysis reveals alterations in brain activation for addiction, emotional processing, memory, cognitive control, and reward systems. Additionally, ANOVA analysis highlights specific brain regions, including the putamen, caudate, and hippocampus, which may contribute to relapse risk. The study highlights the potential for neuroplasticity and recovery and emphasizes the need for further research in this area. More generally, it contributes to understanding brain changes during alcohol abstinence and to the development of targeted treatments.