Imaging Cognitive Deficits in Drug Abuse

Abstract

The neuropsychological network is a complex structure. To identify processes location and network capacity the brain imaging techniques together and in combination with other neuropsychological techniques and the expanding of well elaborated designs provide us with a multidimensional understanding, and contributes to the understanding of each illicit drug's character, which is of importance in designing of new treatment programs and clinical practice. Cannabis, MDMA, amphetamine, cocaine, and heroin abusers display both acute effects and chronic effects, deficits in attention, memory, and executive functioning. These deficits may last beyond the period of intoxication and cumulate with years of use. Cannabis users may recruit an alternative neural network as a compensatory mechanism during performance of tasks of attention. There is some evidence indicating the detrimental effects of cannabis on the maturing adolescent brain. Stimulant dependence is characterized by a distributed alteration of functional activation. Attenuated anterior and posterior cingulate activation, reduced inferior frontal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation, and altered posterior parietal activation point towards an inadequate demand-specific processing of information. On an individual level they exhibit process-related brain activation differences that are consistent with a shift from context-specific, effortful processing to more stereotyped, habitual response generation. Finally, opiate use appears to decrease the ability to shift cognitive set and inhibit inappropriate response tendencies.

Catecholamine mechanisms in the prefrontal cortex: proven strategies for enhancing higher cognitive function

“…A similar loss of PFC firing has also been seen with excessive doses of the indirect catecholamine agonists, psychostimulants [24]. These data help explain why high, abusive doses of psychostimulants impair rather than improve top-down self-control [25]. These data also help to explain why children grappling with stress may resemble those with ADHD, as both have impaired PFC function.…”

Estudio cuantitativo del consumo de drogas y factores sociodemográficos asociados en estudiantes de una universidad tradicional chilena

“…Al respecto, está bien establecido que la corteza prefrontal está relacionada con la experiencia y la expresión emocional, con la capacidad para anticipar y planifi car el futuro, la organización temporal de la conducta, el sentido de la responsabilidad hacia sí mismo y hacia los demás, la posibilidad de adaptarse a un entorno social complejo a costa de reprimir las propias tendencias instintivas, lo que podría resumirse por juicio ético y conducta social. El uso de marihuana se asocia con hipofunción de la corteza prefrontal, generando défi cits en las funciones ejecutivas, en la atención, memoria, efectos que pueden durar más allá del período de consumo y ser acumulativos 11,12 . Esta hipofuncionalidad crea un abismo entre el conocimiento y el sentimiento perdiéndose la capacidad inhibidora sobre nuestros instintos más primarios apareciendo la desinhibición, aumento de la impulsividad y un comportamiento social inapropiado 13,14 .…”

Neuropsychological Assessment in Substance Abuse Treatment—Focusing on the Effects of Substances and on Neuropsychological Assessment as a Collaborative Process

“…Cannabis has considerable effects on attention, memory, and executive functioning, effects that might emerge in adolescence and young adulthood but tend to cumulate with increasing years of consumption, and with early onset (Gonzales et al, 2012;Lundqvist, 1995;Lundqvist et al, 2009;Thoma et al, 2011). It is well known that the effects of cannabis may be prolonged, and although some effects are reversible, others may be persistent (Lundqvist, 2005;Thoma et al).…”