Haoye Tan1, Tianzhen Chen1, Jiang Du1, Runji Li2, Haifeng Jiang1, Cheng-Long Deng3, Weidong Song4, Ding Xu4, Min Zhao5. 1. Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 2. Shanghai South West Weiyu Middle School, Shanghai, China. 3. School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China. 4. Shanghai Compulsory Drug Dependence Treatment Center, Shanghai, China. 5. Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: drminzhao@smhc.org.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Accumulated studies in substance use disorders indicated that the mesocorticolimbic reward circuit and executive control circuit played interactive roles in the cue-reactivity and gamma oscillatory in the cortex, as well as autonomic nervous activity was associated with it. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to explore the mechanism of processing drug-related cues. METHODS: Sixty methamphetamine users were recruited and exposed to the drug-related virtual reality (VR) environments. Self-reported craving was assessed and skin conductance level (SCL) and heart rate variability were used to measure the autonomic nervous reactivity. With source estimation, gamma current density was used to measure the activity of medial prefrontal cortex/orbitofrontal cortex (MPFC/OFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) which are responsible for the mesocorticolimbic reward circuit and the executive control circuit. RESULTS: The VR drug-related cue induced an increased craving and SCL compared with the neutral condition. Gamma activity in MPFC/OFC and right DLPFC were decreased after cue exposure and predicted the SCL changes. However, no association was found between self-reported craving and electrophysiological response. CONCLUSIONS: Cue-reactivity in cortex and ANS, as well as their association, were observed in this study. Cue-induced electrophysiological responses were related to gamma activity in the mesocorticolimbic reward circuit and the executive control circuit.
BACKGROUND: Accumulated studies in substance use disorders indicated that the mesocorticolimbic reward circuit and executive control circuit played interactive roles in the cue-reactivity and gamma oscillatory in the cortex, as well as autonomic nervous activity was associated with it. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to explore the mechanism of processing drug-related cues. METHODS: Sixty methamphetamine users were recruited and exposed to the drug-related virtual reality (VR) environments. Self-reported craving was assessed and skin conductance level (SCL) and heart rate variability were used to measure the autonomic nervous reactivity. With source estimation, gamma current density was used to measure the activity of medial prefrontal cortex/orbitofrontal cortex (MPFC/OFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) which are responsible for the mesocorticolimbic reward circuit and the executive control circuit. RESULTS: The VR drug-related cue induced an increased craving and SCL compared with the neutral condition. Gamma activity in MPFC/OFC and right DLPFC were decreased after cue exposure and predicted the SCL changes. However, no association was found between self-reported craving and electrophysiological response. CONCLUSIONS: Cue-reactivity in cortex and ANS, as well as their association, were observed in this study. Cue-induced electrophysiological responses were related to gamma activity in the mesocorticolimbic reward circuit and the executive control circuit.
Authors: Lee Seng Esmond Seow; Wei Jie Ong; Aditi Hombali; P V AshaRani; Mythily Subramaniam Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-09-07 Impact factor: 3.390