In the face of threat: neural and endocrine correlates of impaired facial emotion recognition in cocaine dependence

Abstract

The ability to recognize facial expressions of emotion in others is a cornerstone of human interaction. Selective impairments in the recognition of facial expressions of fear have frequently been reported in chronic cocaine users, but the nature of these impairments remains poorly understood. We used the multivariate method of partial least squares and structural magnetic resonance imaging to identify gray matter brain networks that underlie facial affect processing in both cocaine-dependent (n=29) and healthy male volunteers (n=29). We hypothesized that disruptions in neuroendocrine function in cocaine-dependent individuals would explain their impairments in fear recognition by modulating the relationship with the underlying gray matter networks. We found that cocaine-dependent individuals not only exhibited significant impairments in the recognition of fear, but also for facial expressions of anger. Although recognition accuracy of threatening expressions co-varied in all participants with distinctive gray matter networks implicated in fear and anger processing, in cocaine users it was less well predicted by these networks than in controls. The weaker brain-behavior relationships for threat processing were also mediated by distinctly different factors. Fear recognition impairments were influenced by variations in intelligence levels, whereas anger recognition impairments were associated with comorbid opiate dependence and related reduction in testosterone levels. We also observed an inverse relationship between testosterone levels and the duration of crack and opiate use. Our data provide novel insight into the neurobiological basis of abnormal threat processing in cocaine dependence, which may shed light on new opportunities facilitating the psychosocial integration of these patients.

Effects of naltrexone are influenced by childhood adversity during negative emotional processing in addiction recovery

“…Emotions have a critical role in the development, maintenance and successful treatment of addiction. 1 , 2 , 3 Suppression of negative affective states such as anxiety and withdrawal symptoms is one motivational pathway to support the consumption of alcohol. 4 , 5 As negatively reinforced drinking becomes more pronounced, negative affective states increase, thereby escalating alcohol intake and raising vulnerability to relapse after treatment.…”

Social cognition in addiction

“…Most studies with cocaine and methamphetamine users have revealed that their ability to identify basic facial affect expressions is largely unimpaired (108)(109)(110)(111)(112)(113)(114). However, a few studies have found specific alterations in fear (115)(116)(117)(118) and anger processing (115) from faces in regular users of cocaine or methamphetamine. Moreover, in polysubstance users, fear and anger recognition performance was negatively correlated with cocaine use intensity (119), while another study did not show an effect of stimulant polysubstance use on facets of cognitive empathy when assessed with complex stimuli (120).…”

Social motivational processing and interpersonal function in aging cocaine smokers

“…; Morgan & Marshall ; Ersche et al . ). Another study found decreased emotion recognition in cocaine users due to lowered identification of emotion from vocal prosody and difficulty integrating cross‐modal (prosody/facial) affective information.…”

“…; Morgan & Marshall ; Ersche et al . ), two recent studies examined social reward processing, a key dimension of social motivation. In one, cocaine users showed blunted social reward during virtual interaction relative to controls, indicated by self‐report and physiological measures.…”