Abstract
Background: In vivo magnetic resonance studies have found that cocaine dependence
is associated with T2 signal hyperintensities and metabolite abnormalities in cerebral
white matter (WM). Functional neuroimaging studies have suggested that chronic cocaine
use is primarily associated with frontal lobe deficits in regional cerebral blood
flow and brain glucose metabolism levels; however, the effects of cocaine dependence,
if any, on frontal WM microstructure are unknown. Thus, we sought to examine the effects
of cocaine dependence on frontal WM integrity.
Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging was employed to examine the WM integrity of frontal
regions at four levels: 10 mm above, 5 mm above, 0 mm above, and 5 mm below the anterior
commissure-posterior commissure (AC-PC) plane. The fractional anisotropy (FA) of 12
cocaine-dependent patients and 13 age-similar control subjects was compared.
Results: The cocaine-dependent patients had significantly reduced FA in the frontal
WM at the AC-PC plane and a trend toward reduced FA at 5 mm below the AC-PC plane,
suggestive of reduced WM integrity in these regions.
Conclusions: These findings were consistent with the hypothesis that cocaine dependence
involves alterations in orbitofrontal connectivity, which may be involved in the decision-making
deficits seen in this disorder.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 16,
2001
Received in revised form:
November 5,
2001
Received:
July 31,
2001
Identification
Copyright
© 2002 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
