Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 23, 2026
A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration
Published on: January 22, 2016
Depression and executive dysfunction contribute to a metamemory deficit among individuals with methamphetamine use
K B Casaletto1, L Obermeit1, E E Morgan2
1SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA.
Objective:
Chronic methamphetamine (MA) use is associated with moderate deficits in learning and memory, but the extend to which MA users are aware of such memory deficits (i.e., metamemory) is not known.
Methods:
In the current study, 195 participants with lifetime MA use diagnoses (MA +) and 195 non-MA-using comparison subjects (MA -) underwent comprehensive neuropsychiatry research assessments, including performance-based and self-report measures of episodic memory.
Results:
MA use disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD), and their interaction were uniquely associated with metamemory functioning, such that MDD increased the likelihood of a metamemory deficit among MA + participants. Within the MA group, individuals who over-estimated their memory abilities demonstrated greater executive dysfunction and lower cognitive reserve.
Conclusions:
Chronic MA use is associated with reduced awareness of objective deficits in memory acquisition and recall, which is particularly exacerbated by the presence of major depression. Efforts to enhance metamemory accuracy and deployment of compensatory mnemonic strategies may benefit substance abuse treatment outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
01:13Amnesia
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
01:24CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids