Quantitative Electroencephalographic Studies of Cue-Induced Cocaine Craving

Abstract

Quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) profiles were studied in cocaine dependent patients in response to cocaine cue exposure. Using neurometric analytical methods, the spectral power of each primary bandwidth was computed and topographically mapped. Additional measures of cue-reactivity included cocaine craving, anxiety and related subjective ratings, and physiological measures of skin conductance, skin temperature, heart rate, and plasma cortisol and HVA levels. Twenty-four crack cocaine-dependent subjects were tested for their response to tactile, visual and audio cues related to crack cocaine or neutral items. All measures were analyzed for significant difference by comparing cocaine versus neutral cue conditions. An increase in cocaine craving, anxiety and related subjective ratings, elevated plasma cortisol levels, and a decrease in skin temperature, were induced by cocaine cue exposure. Distinct qEEG profiles were found during the paraphernalia handling and video viewing (eyes-open), and guided imagery (eyes-closed), phases of cocaine cue exposure. During paraphernalia handling and video viewing, there was an increase in beta activity accompanied by a drop in delta power in the frontal cortex, and an increase in beta mean frequency in the occipital cortex. In contrast, during guided imagery there was an increase in theta and delta power in the frontal cortex, and an increase in beta power in the occipital cortex. Correlation analyses revealed that cue-induced anxiety during paraphernalia handling and video viewing was associated with reduced high frequency and enhanced low frequency EEG activity. These findings demonstrated that EEG activation during cue-induced cocaine craving may be topographically mapped and subsequently analyzed for functional relevance.

Changes in the Electroencephalographic Spectrum in Response to Smoking Cues in Smokers and Ex-Smokers

“…In contrast, Knott et al [23] found delta activity to be decreased in response to urge-related imagery, but only in males. Alpha activity remained unaffected by urge and no-urge scripts and drug-related stimuli in both smokers and cocaine users [23,24] .…”

“…During active cocaine paraphernalia handling and video viewing only beta activity was enhanced. Changes in delta power were more dependent on task: during imagery, there was an increase in delta, whereas a drop was observed in the paraphernalia and video task [24] . In contrast, Knott et al [23] found delta activity to be decreased in response to urge-related imagery, but only in males.…”

“…It has been suggested [23,24] that the EEG changes in the frequency domain as a result of urge-related imagery reflect drug craving. However, either no correlation analyses between the power in each frequency band and selfreported craving were performed [23] or they led to nonsignificant results [24] .…”

Delta EEG Activity in Left Orbitofrontal Cortex in Rats Related to Food Reward and Craving

“…Firstly, our data are in accordance with studies on cocaine in humans. For example, a reduction in delta power in the frontal cortex during touching and seeing cocaine cues has been observed, suggestive of craving, while an increase was found during guided imagery of cocaine, indicative of analogical reward (Reid et al, 2003). Cocaine also produced an increase in delta coherence over the prefrontal cortex, indicating the involvement of delta activity in the rewarding properties of cocaine (Reid et al, 2006).…”

Integrating Cognitive Neuroscience Research and Cognitive Behavioral Treatment with Neurofeedback Therapy in Drug Addiction Comorbid with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Conceptual Review

“…In laboratory conditions drug-related cues are used to elicit craving and to examine neurophysiological substrates of cue-elicited craving (Bonson et al, 2002;Ehrman et al, 1992Ehrman et al, ,1998Franken, 2003;Robbins et al, 1997). Studies are reported on neuroimaging , Garavan, Ross, & Stein, 1999Kilts et al, 2004), EEG (Bauer & Kranzler, 1994;Liu et al, 1998;Reid et al, 2003) and autonomic (Robbins et al, 1999;Ingjaldsson et al, 2003) effects associated with drug cue-related responses and craving.…”