title: In the face of threat: neural and endocrine correlates of impaired facial emotion recognition in cocaine dependence.
abstract: The ability to recognize facial expressions of emotion in others is a cornerstone of human interaction. Selective impairments in the recognition of facial expressions of fear have frequently been reported in chronic cocaine users, but the nature of these impairments remains poorly understood. We used the multivariate method of partial least squares and structural magnetic resonance imaging to identify gray matter brain networks that underlie facial affect processing in both cocaine-dependent (n = 29) and healthy male volunteers (n = 29). We hypothesized that disruptions in neuroendocrine function in cocaine-dependent individuals would explain their impairments in fear recognition by modulating the relationship with the underlying gray matter networks. We found that cocaine-dependent individuals not only exhibited significant impairments in the recognition of fear, but also for facial expressions of anger. Although recognition accuracy of threatening expressions co-varied in all participants with distinctive gray matter networks implicated in fear and anger processing, in cocaine users it was less well predicted by these networks than in controls. The weaker brain-behavior relationships for threat processing were also mediated by distinctly different factors. Fear recognition impairments were influenced by variations in intelligence levels, whereas anger recognition impairments were associated with comorbid opiate dependence and related reduction in testosterone levels. We also observed an inverse relationship between testosterone levels and the duration of crack and opiate use. Our data provide novel insight into the neurobiological basis of abnormal threat processing in cocaine dependence, which may shed light on new opportunities facilitating the psychosocial integration of these patients.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK [2] Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Ersche
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hagan
authors.affiliation: 1] Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK [2] Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.affiliation: 1] Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK [2] Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D005149:Facial Expression; D000066499:Facial Recognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007360:Intelligence; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine; D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone