Increased electroencephalographic activity in crack-cocaine users visualizing crack cues.
This study aimed to examine electrophysiologically the cerebral function under visual cue-reactivity paradigm in crack-cocaine users. This was an exploratory open trial in which young crack-cocaine-users and non-users were clinically examined. The participants' brain activity was analyzed by an event-related potentials procedure under a cue-reactivity paradigm with the random visual presentation of crack-related and neutral images. Nine young male crack-cocaine users and nine age-matched male healthy subjects from research center's neighborhood volunteered themselves to participate in this study. We demonstrated through electrophysiological tools that crack-cocaine users are more likely to show higher brain activity, notably in the frontal lobe region, when processing crack-related images. Though imaging studies have already showed increased brain activity in this paradigm, this data shows that event-related potentials can be an effective tool for brain evaluation in addiction.
Laboratory of Cognitive Sciences and Neuropsychopharmacology, Program of Post-Graduation in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória ES, Brazil.
Janine Andrade
JA
Moscon
Laboratory of Cognitive Sciences and Neuropsychopharmacology, Program of Post-Graduation in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória ES, Brazil. Electronic address: catarineconti@hotmail.com.
Catarine Lima
CL
Conti
Laboratory of Cognitive Sciences and Neuropsychopharmacology, Program of Post-Graduation in Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória ES, Brazil.
Ester Miyuki
EM
Nakamura-Palacios
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D003463:Cues; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
D016578:Crack Cocaine
Brain; Crack-cocaine; Electroencephalogram; Event-related potential