Cerebral metabolic dysfunction and impaired vigilance in recently abstinent methamphetamine abusers.
BACKGROUND
Methamphetamine (MA) abusers have cognitive deficits, abnormal metabolic activity and structural deficits in limbic and paralimbic cortices, and reduced hippocampal volume. The links between cognitive impairment and these cerebral abnormalities are not established.


METHODS
We assessed cerebral glucose metabolism with [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in 17 abstinent (4 to 7 days) methamphetamine users and 16 control subjects performing an auditory vigilance task and obtained structural magnetic resonance brain scans. Regional brain radioactivity served as a marker for relative glucose metabolism. Error rates on the task were related to regional radioactivity and hippocampal morphology.


RESULTS
Methamphetamine users had higher error rates than control subjects on the vigilance task. The groups showed different relationships between error rates and relative activity in the anterior and middle cingulate gyrus and the insula. Whereas the MA user group showed negative correlations involving these regions, the control group showed positive correlations involving the cingulate cortex. Across groups, hippocampal metabolic and structural measures were negatively correlated with error rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Dysfunction in the cingulate and insular cortices of recently abstinent MA abusers contribute to impaired vigilance and other cognitive functions requiring sustained attention. Hippocampal integrity predicts task performance in methamphetamine users as well as control subjects.
London
Edythe D
ED
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024-1759, USA. elondon@mednet.ucla.edu
Berman
Steven M
SM
Voytek
Bradley
B
Simon
Sara L
SL
Mandelkern
Mark A
MA
Monterosso
John
J
Thompson
Paul M
PM
Brody
Arthur L
AL
Geaga
Jennifer A
JA
Hong
Michael S
MS
Hayashi
Kiralee M
KM
Rawson
Richard A
RA
Ling
Walter
W
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D008694:Methamphetamine; D005947:Glucose