An fMRI Study of the Effect of Amphetamine on Brain Activity,

Uftring, S. J.; Wachtel, Stephen R.; Chu, David; McCandless, Cyrus H.; Levin, David; Wit, Harriet de

doi:10.1016/s0893-133x(01)00311-6

Cited by 38 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…This could be related to the different neurotransmitter systems these drugs predominantly act upon, namely, the serotonin (ecstasy) and the dopamine (amphetamine) system. At present, there is no compelling evidence to suggest that ecstasy use damages dopamine neurons in the human brain (Colado et al, 2004), but there is evidence from neuroimaging studies that (meth)amphetamine can induce changes in dopaminergic brain circuits (Choi et al, 2006;Reneman et al, 2002;Uftring et al, 2001;Volkow et al, 2001). However, more research with other (neuroimaging) techniques is necessary to further elucidate the neurochemical mechanisms underlying the drug-induced alterations in the BOLD signal, as measured in the present study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Assessment of Cognitive Brain Function in Ecstasy Users and Contributions of Other Drugs of Abuse: Results from an fMRI Study

Jager

Win

Tweel

et al. 2007

Neuropsychopharmacol

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Heavy ecstasy use has been associated with neurocognitive deficits in various behavioral and brain imaging studies. However, this association is not conclusive owing to the unavoidable confounding factor of polysubstance use. The present study, as part of the Netherlands XTC Toxicity study, investigated specific effects of ecstasy on working memory, attention, and associative memory, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A large sample (n ¼ 71) was carefully composed based on variation in the amount and type of drugs that were used. The sample included 33 heavy ecstasy users (mean 322 pills lifetime). Neurocognitive brain function in three domains: working memory, attention, and associative memory, was assessed with performance measures and fMRI. Independent effects of the use of ecstasy, amphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, and of gender and IQ were assessed and separated by means of multiple regression analyses. Use of ecstasy had no effect on working memory and attention, but drug use was associated with reduced associative memory performance. Multiple regression analysis showed that associative memory performance was affected by amphetamine much more than by ecstasy. Both drugs affected associative memory-related brain activity, but the effects were consistently in opposite directions, suggesting that different mechanisms are at play. This could be related to the different neurotransmitter systems these drugs predominantly act upon, that is, serotonin (ecstasy) vs dopamine (amphetamine) systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Assessment of Cognitive Brain Function in Ecstasy Users and Contributions of Other Drugs of Abuse: Results from an fMRI Study

Jager

Win

Tweel

et al. 2007

Neuropsychopharmacol

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“…Uftring et al (2001) showed a significant increase in the number of activated voxels in the primary sensorimotor cortex during a simple motor task. However, on the basis of our analysis of the time course of activations in the orbitofrontal cortex, we could establish that the neuronal activations found in this area were not dependent on motor activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Methamphetamine Activates Reward Circuitry in Drug Naïve Human Subjects

Völlm

Araújo

Cowen

et al. 2004

Neuropsychopharmacol

145

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Amphetamines are highly addictive drugs that have pronounced effects on emotional and cognitive behavior in humans. These effects are mediated through their potent dopaminergic agonistic properties. Dopamine has also been implicated in the modulation of responses of the 'reward circuit' in animal and human studies. In this study we use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify the brain circuitry involved in the psychostimulant effect of methamphetamine in psychostimulant-naïve human subjects. Seven healthy volunteers were scanned in a 3T MR imaging system. They received single-blind intravenous infusions of methamphetamine (0.15 mg/kg), and rated their experience of 'mind-racing' on a button press throughout the experiment. Data were analyzed with statistical parametric mapping methods. Amphetamine administration activated the medial orbitofrontal cortex, the rostral part of the anterior cingulate cortex, and the ventral striatum. Ratings of 'mind-racing' after methamphetamine infusion correlated with activations in the rostral part of the anterior cingulate cortex and in the ventral striatum. In addition, activations in the medial orbitofrontal cortex were independent of motor and related responses involved in making the ratings. These findings indicate that the first administration of a psychostimulant to human subjects activates classical reward circuitry. Our data also support recent hypotheses suggesting a central role for the orbitofrontal cortex in drug reinforcement and the development of addiction.

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“…This analysis found virtually no voxels showing a significant correlation between activation and THCCOOH levels-but we cannot exclude the possibility that there might nevertheless be an association between brain activation and time since last cannabis use within the 6-to 36-h range. At present, speculation on this point must be limited, since we are not aware of any studies that have used fMRI to examine taskrelated neuronal activation in subjects who were directly administered cannabinoids-or, for that matter, comparable studies with any other drugs of abuse, with the exception of one study showing increased task-related neuronal activity with amphetamine administration (Uftring et al 2001).…”

Section: Regions Of Activationmentioning

confidence: 99%