title: Acute effects of the designer drugs benzylpiperazine (BZP) and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and the Stroop task--a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A novel group of designer drugs containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) and/or trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) have been available worldwide for more than a decade; however, their effects on human brain function have not been extensively described.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, the acute effects of BZP and TFMPP (alone and in combination) on the neural networks involved in executive function were investigated using an event-related Stroop functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen healthy participants aged 18-40 years undertook the Stroop task 90 min after taking an oral dose of either BZP (200 mg), TFMPP (either 50 or 60 mg), BZP + TFMPP (100 + 30 mg) or placebo. A change in activity in neural regions reflects an increase in local demand for oxygen, due to an increase in neuronal activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to placebo, an increase in neural activation was observed in the dorsal striatum following BZP, and in the thalamus following TFMPP, when performing the Stroop task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that additional compensatory resources were recruited to maintain performance during the Stroop task. When BZP and TFMPP were administered together, both the dorsal striatum and thalamus were activated. However, the combination of BZP/TFMPP attenuated activation in the caudate, possibly due to TFMPP's indirect effects on dopamine release via 5HT2C receptors.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand, l.curley@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Louise E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Curley
authors.forename: Rob R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kydd
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Avinesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McNair
authors.forename: HeeSeung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057190:Stroop Test; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015198:Designer Drugs; D010879:Piperazines; C018406:1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine; C006737:1-benzylpiperazine