Ludivine Ritz (MC HDR, LPCN, Université de Caen Normandie), Alexandrine Morand (MC, Dysco, Université Paris 8), Alice Laniepce (MC, CRFDP, Université de Rouen Normandie), Nicolas Cabé (MCU-PH et addictologue au CHU, Université de Caen Normandie), Shailendra Segobin (IR, NIMH, Université de Caen Normandie) & Anne-Lise Pitel (PU, PhIND-Neuropresage, Université de Caen Normandie) ont publié un nouvel article dans la revue Translational Psychiatry.
Ritz, L., Morand, A., Laniepce, A., Cabé, N., Segobin, S., & Pitel, A. L. (2026). Cerebellar hypermetabolism disrupts fronto-cerebellar resting-state functional connectivity and associated executive compensation. Translational Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04217-w
Abstract
Cerebellar hypermetabolism measured with FDG-PET is interpreted as maladaptive plasticity, while increased cerebellar functional connectivity reported in fMRI studies indicates a compensatory role. Using Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) as a neurobiological model, the combination of PET and fMRI examinations can extend our understanding of cerebellar mechanisms underlying brain reorganization within the fronto-thalamo-cerebellar circuit (FCC) supporting executive functions. The aim of the present study was to investigate resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) of the cerebellum and to examine its relationship with cerebellar metabolism, thalamic grey matter volume (GM) as a key node of the FCC, and executive functioning. In AUD patients, stronger negative rs-FC was found between the cerebellar lobule VIII seed and voxels in the left superior frontal gyrus compared with HC. Path analysis conducted in AUD patients indicated that cerebellar hypermetabolism was positively related to fronto-cerebellar rs-FC, and that fronto-cerebellar rs-FC was positively related to inhibition performance. In this model, after controlling for thalamic GM abnormalities, cerebellar hypermetabolism negatively impacted inhibition performance through rs-FC. Cerebellar hypermetabolism disrupts negative fronto-cerebellar rs-FC, resulting in desynchronization within the fronto-cerebellar loop that compromises compensation for executive deficits. Cerebellar hypermetabolism may represent a biomarker of alcohol-related brain dysfunction, as an initial mechanism in the cascade linking fronto-cerebellar desynchronization and executive impairment.
Il est consultable via ce lien : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04217-w. Celui-ci a été publié dans la revue Translational Psychiatry (JIF : 7.5), une revue scientifique internationale à comité de lecture, publiée par le groupe Nature Portfolio. Elle est dédiée à la recherche translationnelle en psychiatrie, en mettant l’accent sur les travaux qui relient les découvertes fondamentales aux applications cliniques. La revue publie des articles originaux, des revues de littérature et des études portant notamment sur les bases biologiques des troubles psychiatriques, les biomarqueurs, la génétique, les neurosciences, la pharmacologie et les approches thérapeutiques innovantes.
Ludivine Ritz est enseignante-chercheuse HDR au LPCN, ses recherches portent sur la neuropsychologie, les addictions, les fonctions exécutives et les neurosciences cognitives.
Elle est impliquée dans le programme de recherche Addiction. Elle travaille actuellement sur un nouveau projet de recherche sur la drunkorexie : le projet DREMA.
