Eivind Sirnes1, Silja T Griffiths2, Stein Magnus Aukland3, Geir Egil Eide4, Irene B Elgen5, Hilde Gundersen6. 1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: eivind.sirnes@helse-bergen.no. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. 3. Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. 4. Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. 5. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. 6. Department of Sport and Physical Education, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Opioid induced cerebral changes may contribute to neuropsychological difficulties, like attention problems, frequently reported in prenatally opioid-exposed children. Reduced regional brain volumes have been shown after prenatal opioid exposure, but no study to date has explored the possible impact of prenatal opioids on brain activation patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital-based sample of prenatally opioid-exposed school-aged children (n = 11) and unexposed controls (n = 12) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a combined working memory-selective attention task. Within-group- and between-group analyses of blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) activation were performed using the SPM12 software package and group differences in task performance were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards modeling. RESULTS: Overall, similar patterns of task related parietal and prefrontal BOLD activations were found in both groups. The opioid-exposed group showed impaired task performance, and during the most cognitive demanding versions of the working memory-selective attention task, increased activation in prefrontal cortical areas was found in the opioid-exposed group compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that prenatal opioids affect later brain function, visible through changes in BOLD activation patterns. However, results should be considered preliminary until replicated in larger samples better suited to control for potential confounding factors.
BACKGROUND: Opioid induced cerebral changes may contribute to neuropsychological difficulties, like attention problems, frequently reported in prenatally opioid-exposed children. Reduced regional brain volumes have been shown after prenatal opioid exposure, but no study to date has explored the possible impact of prenatal opioids on brain activation patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital-based sample of prenatally opioid-exposed school-aged children (n = 11) and unexposed controls (n = 12) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a combined working memory-selective attention task. Within-group- and between-group analyses of blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) activation were performed using the SPM12 software package and group differences in task performance were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards modeling. RESULTS: Overall, similar patterns of task related parietal and prefrontal BOLD activations were found in both groups. The opioid-exposed group showed impaired task performance, and during the most cognitive demanding versions of the working memory-selective attention task, increased activation in prefrontal cortical areas was found in the opioid-exposed group compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that prenatal opioids affect later brain function, visible through changes in BOLD activation patterns. However, results should be considered preliminary until replicated in larger samples better suited to control for potential confounding factors.
Authors: Ramana V Vishnubhotla; Yi Zhao; Qiuting Wen; Jonathan Dietrich; Gregory M Sokol; Senthilkumar Sadhasivam; Rupa Radhakrishnan Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2022-09-16 Impact factor: 5.152
Authors: Rupa Radhakrishnan; Nahla M H Elsaid; Senthilkumar Sadhasivam; Thomas A Reher; Abbey C Hines; Karmen K Yoder; Andrew J Saykin; Yu-Chien Wu Journal: Neuroradiology Date: 2020-09-26 Impact factor: 2.995