The influence of amphetamine on language activation: an fMRI study.
BACKGROUND
Amphetamine administration has been found to affect the degree of cerebral dominance for motor control in animals. In humans, cerebral dopamine neurotransmission is also correlated to motor dominance. Since language dominance is related to motor dominance, amphetamine might also affect cerebral dominance for language.


METHODS
To test this hypothesis, language activation was measured twice with functional magnetic resonance imaging in ten healthy right-handed men in a double-blind crossover design 2 h after amphetamine or placebo administration.


RESULTS
Language-related activation increased significantly in task-related areas, but the individual lateralization index was not affected in the amphetamine condition as compared to placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding suggests that short-termed alterations in the dopaminergic neurotransmission do not affect language dominance.
Sommer
Iris E C
IE
Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience Psychiatry Department, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands. I.Sommer@azu.nl
Oranje
Bob
B
Ramsey
Nick F
NF
Klerk
Floris A
FA
Mandl
René C W
RC
Westenberg
Herman G M
HG
Kahn
René S
RS
D000328:Adult; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001931:Brain Mapping; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003657:Decision Making / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D013060:Speech / Q000187:drug effects
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D000661:Amphetamine