Changes in Diffusion MRI-Based White Matter Metrics After a Dance Intervention in Individuals with Substance Use Disorders—A Pilot Study

Objectives: The present study examined the effects of a three-week dance intervention on diffusion MRI-based white matter metrics in a sample of individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD; F19.2). Methods: The intervention was carried out in an inpatient rehabilitation facility twice a week. Participants were partly randomized into two groups, one intervention group and one treatment-as-usual group, which did not differ in terms of substitution or other psychiatric medications. Both groups underwent an MRI assessment at baseline and after the intervention, using diffusion-weighted imaging. Results: Analysis of MRI diffusion data revealed significant effects in the intervention group relative to the treatment-as-usual group, particularly within white matter networks associated with sensorimotor functions, with the most pronounced changes in the cerebellum. Conclusions: These findings suggest that learning a new motor skill may induce white matter changes in the brain in individuals with SUDs.