Abstract: Objective To investigate the changes in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) functional connectivity and its association with
decision-making deficits in chronic heroin-dependent individuals (HDIs) and explore the neural mechanisms of heroin
addiction and relapse. Methods Fourteen male chronic HDIs and 14 healthy subjects matched for age, education, and nicotine
consumption participated in this study. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed using a 1.5
T MR scanner. Functional connectivity of the OFC and the rest of the brain were calculated using REST software. Voxel-based
analysis of the functional connectivity maps between the control and HDI groups was performed with two-sample t test. The
Iowa gambling task (IGT) was used to assess the participants’ decision making during uncertainty. Results Compared with the
control group, the HDIs showed significantly decreased functional connectivity of the OFC and the right inferior parietal
lobule (rIPL) (t=3.5, P<0.05). A significant negative correlation was noted between the functional connectivity of the OFC-rIPL
and performance level at the IGT. Conclusion The OFC-rIPL functional connectivity is significantly disrupted in HDIs, which
may be the neural basis for decision-making deficits.