Reduced anterior insular cortex volume in male heroin addicts: a postmortem study.

We and others have observed reduced volumes of brain regions, including the nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, hypothalamus, and habenula in opioid addiction. Notably, the insular cortex has been under increasing study in addiction, and a smaller anterior insula has been found in alcohol-addicted cases. Here, we have investigated whether similar effects occur in heroin addicts compared to healthy controls.

Reduced habenular volumes and neuron numbers in male heroin addicts: a post-mortem study.

The Habenula is increasingly being investigated in addiction. Reduced volumes of other relevant brain regions in addiction, such as nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus and hypothalamus have been reported. Reduced volumes of the habenula as well as reduced neuronal cell count in the habenula have also been reported in mood disorders and an overlap between mood disorders and addiction is clinically widely recognized.

Reduced volumes of the external and internal globus pallidus in male heroin addicts: a postmortem study.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus was recently proposed as a potential new treatment target for opioid addiction. DBS requires computer-assisted-3D planning to implant the stimulation electrode precisely. As volumes of brain regions may differ in addiction compared to healthy controls, our aim was to investigate possible volume differences in addicts compared to healthy controls.

Total hypothalamic volume is reduced in postmortem brains of male heroin addicts.

The hypothalamus is at the core of the stress responses systems of the brain. Most interestingly, even though changes of HPA-function have been observed in opiate addiction not much is known about structural changes of the hypothalamus. Volumes of hypothalamus in heroin addicts (n = 14) and healthy controls (n = 12) were assessed by using morphometry of serial whole-brain sections.

Postmortem volumetric analysis of the nucleus accumbens in male heroin addicts: implications for deep brain stimulation.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is increasingly investigated in neuropsychiatric disorders. DBS requires computer-assisted 3D planning to implant the stimulation electrode precisely. Recently, there has been a debate about the true dimensions of NAc in healthy as well as in mentally ill individuals.