Altered Interoception and Resting-State Functional Connectivity in the Insular System of Cocaine Dependents

Yuzheng Hu¹, Hong Gu¹, Betty Jo Salmeron¹, Lia Liang¹, Elliot Stein¹, Yihong Yang¹

Accumulative evidence has indicated the involvement of the insular system in drug addiction by its fundamental role in interoception. However, relationship between the interoception, neurobiological measures of insula and addiction behaviors remains unclear. To address this question, the current study employed Toronto Alethymia Scale and resting-state functional connectivity (FC) method to cocaine dependents and well-matched controls. Elevated TAS score and decreased FC of insula-ACC circuitry as well as their disrupted relationship were found in cocaine group, suggesting disturbance of the interoceptive function and underlying neurobiological bases in drug addiction.