Altered functional connectivity within the primary visual networks and neurotransmitter activity in male smokers: A group ICA study

Smoking puts patients at high risk for cognitive and psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of nicotine use on primary visual network (PVN) and its association with neurotransmitters. A total of 59 tobacco use disorder (TUD) patients and 51 healthy controls (HC) participated in this study and underwent resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Functional connectivity (FC) within the network was explored using independent component analysis. In addition, the spatial correlations of PVN changes with neurotransmitters and their correlations with clinical characteristics of patients were evaluated using the JuSpace toolbox and SPSS. We found reduced FC within the PVN in patients with TUD compared with HC. In terms of relevant analysis, there is a spatial correlation between FC changes in the patient's PVN and a higher distribution of dopamine receptor and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor. This study revealed changes in the FC and neurotransmitters of the PVN in patients with TUD, expanding the potential neural mechanisms underlying sensory perception and psychiatric disorders.