Impaired fear recognition in regular recreational cocaine users

Abstract

There were no group differences in psychopathology or "eyes task" performance, but the RC group, who otherwise had similar illicit substance use histories to the OC group, exhibited impaired fear recognition accuracy compared to the OC and CN groups. The RC group also correctly identified anger, fear, happiness, and surprise, more slowly than CN, but not OC participants. The OC group was slower than CN when correctly identifying disgust. The selective deficit in fear recognition accuracy manifested by the RC group cannot be explained by the subacute effects of cocaine, or ecstasy, because recent and less recent users of these drugs within this group were similarly impaired. Possible parallels between RC users and psychopaths with respect to impaired fear recognition, amygdala dysfunction, and etiology are discussed.

The Neuropsychology of Cocaine Addiction: Recent Cocaine Use Masks Impairment

“…This negative result contrasts with evidence of impaired fear recognition in recreational cocaine users (average use ¼ once per month) (Kemmis et al, 2007) and of similar difficulties as documented using additional emotional recognition tasks in current and abstinent abusers of other drugs (eg, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine, opiates, alcohol) (Hoshi et al, 2004); (Kornreich et al, 2003;Townshend and Duka, 2003). A possible explanation for this difference may pertain to the inclusion criteria.…”

Are people really conformist-biased? An empirical test and a new mathematical model

“…"DIY instructions should have images rather than text"), three binary choices of the most attractive face (2 sets of female, 1 set of male), and three judgments of whether a face showed any sign of a certain emotion (disgust/anger/fear). The three faces used in the judgment of emotion part of the task were created using Smartmorph software (KEMMIS et al 2007). Each picture was obtained by morphing of a face showing the focus emotion (weight 30%) with a neutral face (weight 70 %) to give a face where the original emotion was difficult to recognize.…”

Déficits neuropsicológicos asociados a la relación entre abuso de cocaína y violencia: mecanismos neuronales facilitadores

“…Cocaine-dependent subjects have empathy-related deficits, specifically in perspective-taking, emotional decoding and emotional empathy (Kemmis, Hall, Kingston, & Morgan, 2007;Preller et al, 2014;Roselli & Ardila, 1996;Verdejo-García, Rivas-Perez, Vilar-López, & Pérez-García, 2007). In addition, they present high levels of alexithymia, that is, deficits in the ability to identify and verbalize their own emotions (Keller, Carroll, Nick, & Rounsaville, 1995;Li &Sinha, 2006).…”

“…Emotional decoding or recognition processes (of both facial expressions and prosody) are essential for cognitive empathy and for inferring one's own and others' thoughts, intentions and feelings (Babcock, Green, & Webb, 2008;Kemmis, Hall, Kingston, & Morgan, 2007;Preller et al, 2014;Roselli & Ardila, 1996;Verdejo-García et al, 2007), and so determining subsequent behaviour (Calder & Young, 2005). In this regard, greater severity of cocaine use has been associated with poorer emotional recognition.…”