Researchers studied the acute effects of sublingual buprenorphine on brain responses to heroin-related cues in early-abstinent heroin addicts through an uncontrolled trial. Fifteen early-abstinent heroin addicts were given buprenorphine and underwent fMRI scans to visualize brain activity in response to heroin cues at two separate sessions. The researchers found that buprenorphine has specific brain targets that are effective in lowering cravings in the early stage of heroin abstinence. This study provides useful insights into the mechanism of buprenorphine and its potential to be further developed in therapies for treating drug addiction.