title: Recreational cocaine use is associated with attenuated latent inhibition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence has linked chronic cocaine use with various cognitive deficits; however few studies have investigated the effects of recreational (non-dependent) use. The present study aimed to assess whether recreational users show deficits in latent inhibition (LI: a measure of delayed learning of an association between 2 stimuli, one of which has been previously exposed (PE) without consequence and thus deemed irrelevant).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a quasi-experimental between groups design, recreational cocaine users (n = 21), poly-drug users (n = 17) and drug-naive controls (n = 18) were compared on a LI task. Questionnaires assessing psychological health and drug use were also completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant interaction between condition (PE vs non PE) and group (cocaine, polydrug and control); cocaine users scored lower in the PE condition compared to polydrug users and controls, indicating quicker learning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recreational cocaine users show attenuated LI reflecting reduced ability to filter out irrelevant stimuli enabling faster learning of a PE irrelevant and novel stimuli association. This does not appear to be a result of schizotypy and/or other drug use. Thus even at recreational levels, cocaine use may be sufficient to affect inhibitory attentional processes.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of East London, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: k.soar@uel.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kirstie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soar
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of East London, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dawkins
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of East London, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Page
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of East London, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wooldridge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: Attentional; Inhibitory control; Latent inhibition; Polydrug; Recreational cocaine