Unveiling the Crucial Role of the Brain's Salience Network in Drug Addiction

A new study conducted by researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has found that the brain's 'salience network' is only activated when drugs are taken intravenously, not orally. This finding offers insights into the mechanisms of addiction, as drugs that enter the brain quickly through injection or smoking have a higher addiction potential than those taken orally. The study used PET/fMRI imaging to compare dopamine levels and brain activity in response to methylphenidate administration in twenty adults. The activation of the salience network in the brain is associated with recognizing the subjective effects of drugs, and targeting this network could lead to the development of new treatments for substance use disorders.