A shared spatial topography links the functional connectome correlates of cocaine use disorder and dopamine D2/3 receptor densities
Jocelyn A. Ricard, Loïc Labache, Ashlea Segal, Elvisha Dhamala, Carrisa V. Cocuzza, Grant L. Jones, Sarah W. Yip, Sidhant Chopra, Avram J. Holmes
Abstract
The biological mechanisms that contribute to cocaine and other substance use disorders involve an array of cortical and subcortical systems. Prior work on the development and maintenance of substance use has largely focused on cortico-striatal circuits, with relatively less attention on alterations within and across large-scale functional brain networks, and associated aspects of the dopamine system. Here, we characterize patterns of functional connectivity in cocaine use disorder and their spatial association with neurotransmitter receptor densities and transporter bindings assessed through PET. Profiles of functional connectivity in cocaine use disorder reliably linked with spatial densities of dopamine D2/3 receptors across independent datasets. These findings demonstrate that the topography of dopamine receptor densities may underlie patterns of functional connectivity in cocaine use disorder, as assessed through fMRI. The functional connectivity patterns in cocaine use disorder and their spatial link to neurotransmitter receptor densities are characterized. Findings suggest dopamine D2/3 receptor densities may underlie the functional architecture of cocaine use.