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A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration
Published on: January 22, 2016
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Altered spontaneous neurological activity in methamphetamine use disorders and its association with cognitive
Yanan Zhou1, Winson Fu Zun Yang2, Qiuxia Wu3
1Department of Psychiatry, Hunan Brain Hospital (The Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province), Changsha, China; Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China.
Asian Journal of Psychiatry
|February 15, 2024
Summary
Methamphetamine use disorder alters brain activity, particularly in the left putamen, which is linked to cognitive deficits. These findings highlight potential targets for understanding and treating cognitive impairment in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Methamphetamine (MA) is a widely abused substance with known detrimental effects.
- The specific impact of MA on cognitive function and the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood.
- This research focuses on individuals with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cognitive function and brain functional imaging in individuals with MUD.
- To identify specific alterations in brain activity associated with MUD.
- To correlate these brain activity changes with cognitive performance.
Main Methods:
- The study included 45 patients diagnosed with MUD and 43 healthy controls (HC).
- Cognitive function was assessed using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery.
- Functional brain data were acquired using 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging.
Main Results:
- MUD patients showed altered regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in various brain regions compared to HC.
- Specifically, lower ReHo was observed in the bilateral postcentral, left superior temporal, and left lingual regions.
- Higher ALFF in the bilateral fusiform and left putamen, and lower ALFF in bilateral postcentral cortices and left middle cingulate cortex were found in the MUD group.
- ReHo in the right postcentral cortex correlated positively with maze test performance.
- ALFF in the left putamen negatively correlated with digit-symbol coding, continuous performance, and maze test scores.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with MUD exhibit significant alterations in spontaneous brain neurological activity.
- The intensity of spontaneous neurological activity in the left putamen is strongly associated with cognitive function in MUD patients.
- These findings suggest that altered brain activity, particularly in the putamen, plays a crucial role in cognitive deficits associated with methamphetamine use.
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