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Review
. 2005 Jun;16(3):247-51.
doi: 10.1097/01.rmr.0000194048.43739.d4.

Functional magnetic resonance and spectroscopy in drug and substance abuse

Alvaro C Magalhaes  1
Affiliations
Review

Functional magnetic resonance and spectroscopy in drug and substance abuse

Alvaro C Magalhaes. Top Magn Reson Imaging. 2005 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) were utilized to evaluate functional and metabolic brain changes in drug abusers.

Methods: Functional neuroimaging studies in alcohol, cocaine, cigarette, and cannabis abusers were reviewed in the medical literature from 2000 to 2005.

Results: Brain activation with functional magnetic resonance imaging is different in drug abusers and may show more or less activation according to the task and gender. Lower concentrations of N-acetylaspartate and higher creatine are usually seen with 1H-MRS in the brains of cigarette smokers, people who are cocaine dependent, and alcohol abusers.

Conclusions: Neural substrates of drug addition, craving, drug interaction, individual abstinence, and drug withdrawal can be studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

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