RT Journal Article
T1 Drug polyconsumption is associated with increased synchronization of brain electrical-activity at rest and in a counting task
A1 Coullaut-Valera, Rafael
A1 Arbaiza, Iria
A1 Bajo Bretón, Ricardo
A1 Arrue, Ricardo
A1 López García, María Eugenia
A1 Collaut-Valera, Juan
A1 Correas Marín, María De Los Ángeles
A1 López Sanz, David
A1 Maestu Unturbe, Fernando
A1 Papo, David
AB Drug abusers typically consume not just one but several types of drugs, starting from alcohol and marijuana consumption, and then dramatically lapsing into addiction to harder drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, or amphetamine. The brain of drug abusers presents various structural and neurophysiological abnormalities, some of which may predate drug consumption onset. However, how these changes translate into modifications in functional brain connectivity is still poorly understood. To characterize functional connectivity patterns, we recorded Electroencephalogram (EEG) activity from 21 detoxified drug abusers and 20 age-matched control subjects performing a simple counting task and at rest activity. To evaluate the cortical brain connectivity network we applied the Synchronization Likelihood algorithm. The results showed that drug abusers had higher synchronization levels at low frequencies, mainly in the θ band (4–8 Hz) between frontal and posterior cortical regions. During the counting task, patients showed increased synchronization in the β (14–35 Hz), and γ (35–45 Hz) frequency bands, in fronto-posterior and interhemispheric temporal regions. Taken together 'slow-down' at rest and task-related 'over-exertion' could indicate that the brain of drug abusers is suffering from a premature form of ageing. Future studies will clarify whether this condition can be reversed following prolonged periods of abstinence.
PB World Scientific Publishing
SN 0129-0657
YR 2013
FD 2013
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/94767
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/94767
LA eng
NO R. Coullaut-Valera , I. Arbaiza , R. Bajo, R. Arrúe, M. E. López, J. Coullaut-Valera, A. Correas, D. López-Sanz, F. Maestu, and D. Papo DRUG POLYCONSUMPTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED SYNCHRONIZATION OF BRAIN ELECTRICAL-ACTIVITY AT REST AND IN A COUNTING TASK International Journal of Neural Systems 2014 24:01
DS Docta Complutense
RD 15 dic 2025