Development and Evaluation of Advanced Functional and Structural MRI Techniques to Study Brain Changes in Addiction

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are exploring advanced magnetic resonance imaging MRI and spectroscopy techniques to better understand brain function and structure in relation to drug addiction. This study focuses on developing new imaging methods to observe how addiction affects brain activity, chemistry, and structure. By improving these techniques, the research aims to support future studies investigating addictions impact on the brain and to aid in developing more effective treatments. Participants include healthy controls and drug users who will undergo various MRI and neurostimulation experiments. The study involves multiple experimental arms, such as developing pulse sequences, evaluating brain activity related to transcranial magnetic stimulation TMS, and assessing the prolonged effects of transcranial rotating permanent magnetic stimulation TRPMS. Each participant may attend up to four visits with multiple scanning sessions, lasting from 2 to 8 hours depending on the experiment. Throughout the study, participants will complete questionnaires about medical and drug use history, undergo breathalyzer and urine tests, provide blood samples, and participate in MRI scans that may include specific tasks or brain response experiments. Researchers will measure brain activity, metabolism, structure, and biochemistry, as well as responses to neuromodulation techniques. The study will assess how these advanced imaging methods distinguish between drug users and controls, with a total participation duration varying by experiment.

Advanced Functional and Structural MRI Techniques for Neuropharmacological Imaging