title: One session of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the right prefrontal cortex transiently reduces cocaine craving.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cocaine dependence is a public health problem affecting 2 million individuals in USA. Craving is a predictor of subsequent cocaine use and is related to changes in brain activity in networks involving the prefrontal cortex.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the efficacy of one session of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to reduce craving in cocaine addicted subjects. Six patients underwent two sessions of 10Hz rTMS over left or right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Before, immediately after and 4h after rTMS we measured craving using visual analogue scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Right, but not left, DLPFC stimulation significantly reduced craving over time (F(2,10)=11.07, p=0.0029). The reduction was 19% (13.4-24.6%) from baseline and disappeared after 4h. The interaction of time by site of stimulation for craving was also significant (F(2,25)=6.13, p=0.0068).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One session of 10Hz rTMS over right, but not left, DLPFC transiently reduces craving in cocaine dependent individuals. These results highlight the potential of non-invasive neuromodulation as a therapeutic tool for cocaine addiction.
authors.affiliation: Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, KS 452, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Joan Albert
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Camprodon
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Raga
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alonso-Alonso
authors.forename: Mei-Chiung
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascual-Leone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*