Abstract:

Inhibitory control deficit is the core aspect of impaired cognitive function of heroin addicts and the key influencing factor of relapse. A number of studies confirmed that the inhibitory control function of heroin addicts were damaged, and the abnormal brain activity was found in the frontal lobe, anterior cingulate cortex, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens and insula of chronic heroin users. Previous studies have shown that the inhibitory control deficit of heroin addicts was permanent and irreversible brain damage. However, some recent studies have provided evidence of inhibitory control function recovery of abstinent drug abusers. Besides, the researchers should pay more attention to the inhibitory control function of heroin addicts under the multiple conflict situations, and implement different treatment in the rehabilitation practice according to their own characteristics of abstinent heroin abusers in the future.

Key words: heroin addicts, abstinent heroin abusers, inhibitory control, prefrontal cortex, mesolimbic dopamine system