Neurophysiological evidence for abnormal cognitive processing of drug cues in heroin dependence.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies provide evidence for specific aspects of cue processing in addictive disorders.


OBJECTIVE
The present study employs event related potentials (ERPs) to investigate heroin related visual information processing.


METHODS
Neutral and heroin related pictures were presented to 19 male abstinent heroin dependent patients and 14 male healthy controls.


RESULTS
Patients exhibited larger slow positive wave (SPW) components of the ERP on heroin related pictures than on neutral pictures. Within healthy control subjects there was no difference on the SPW between neutral and heroin pictures. Within heroin dependent patients, mean SPW response to heroin pictures was correlated with post-experiment craving.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides neurophysiological evidence that information processing of drug-related information is abnormal in heroin dependent patients. The results provide further evidence for the cognitive and neurobiological accounts of substance dependence such as the incentive-sensitization theory.
Franken
Ingmar H A
IH
Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University, Woudestein J5-43, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. franken@fsw.eur.nl
Stam
Cornelis J
CJ
Hendriks
Vincent M
VM
van den Brink
Wim
W
D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003463:Cues; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004585:Electrooculography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D003932:Heroin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology
D003932:Heroin