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A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
Published on: June 18, 2018
Reduced attentional scope in cocaine polydrug users
Lorenza S Colzato1, Wery P M van den Wildenberg, Bernhard Hommel
1Institute for Psychological Research & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. colzato@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Plos One
|June 27, 2009
Summary
Recreational cocaine use may impair attention. Monthly cocaine users showed a reduced scope of attention, potentially contributing to continued drug use.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psychopharmacology
Background:
- Cocaine is a widely used recreational drug in Europe, second only to cannabis.
- Limited research exists on cognitive impairments in recreational cocaine users, particularly those with monthly consumption patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of recreational cocaine use on early attentional selection processes.
- To determine if reduced attentional scope is associated with the perpetuation of cocaine use.
Main Methods:
- A study involving matched groups of cocaine-free polydrug controls (n=18) and recreational cocaine polydrug users (n=18).
- Participants were matched for sex, age, alcohol consumption, and IQ (assessed via Raven's Progressive Matrices).
- The Global-Local task was employed to measure the scope of attention.
Main Results:
- Cocaine polydrug users demonstrated a significantly greater focus on local aspects of attended events.
- This finding suggests a potential reduction in the scope of attention among recreational cocaine users.
Conclusions:
- Recreational cocaine use appears to affect attentional selection processes.
- A reduced scope of attention may play a role in the continued use of cocaine.
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