Error-processing deficits in patients with cocaine dependence.
Cocaine abuse and addiction can be characterized by a persisting use of cocaine in the face of adverse consequences. In the present study we focus on one specific element of adverse consequences: the making of errors. The aim of this study was to determine whether cocaine-dependent persons have error-processing deficits as measured using error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe). Event-related potentials (ERPs) during an Eriksen flanker task were recorded from cocaine-dependent patients and a control group. Cocaine-addicted patients showed reduced ERN and Pe components as compared to a control group. On the behavioral level, patients showed reduced post-error accuracy improvement. The present findings reveal that cocaine addiction is associated with reduced error processing and impaired behavioral correction of errors after an error is made. These deficits may be associated with a compromised dopamine system. It is argued that these cognitive deficits may contribute to the maintenance of the cocaine addiction.
Franken
Ingmar H A
IH
Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Woudestein J5-43, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. franken@fsw.eur.nl
van Strien
Jan W
JW
Franzek
Ernst J
EJ
van de Wetering
Ben J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001364:Awareness / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003265:Contingent Negative Variation / Q000502:physiology; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000187:drug effects*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
D003042:Cocaine