Methamphetamine use and cognitive function: A systematic review of neuroimaging research

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Long-term methamphetamine (MA) use is linked to cognitive dysfunction.
• Neuroimaging studies reveal structural, metabolic, and functional brain changes in MA users.
• A systematic review combining neuroimaging and cognitive tasks in MA users is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the correlation between brain imaging measures and cognitive performance in individuals with a history of MA use.
• To categorize findings based on cognitive domains and neuroimaging correlates.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review.
• Analysis of studies correlating neuroimaging data with cognitive task performance in MA users.
• Categorization of results by cognitive domain.

Main Results:

• MA users exhibit poorer performance across multiple cognitive domains compared to controls.
• Positive correlations are observed between cognitive performance and various brain measures (e.g., regional volume, metabolism, activation).
• Cognitive control and decision-making show consistent relationships with brain measures in specific regions like the PFC, ACC, and striatum.

Conclusions:

• Substantial evidence supports a brain-behavior relationship in the cognitive functioning of MA users.
• Cognitive control and decision-making are particularly affected, with clear links to neuroimaging findings.
• Further research correlating brain-behavior relationships with MA use parameters is recommended.