Disfunctionele amygdala activatie en connectiviteit met de prefrontale cortex in cocaine gebruikers

Hyperactivity of the amygdala, thalamus, and hippocampus and reduced amygdala connectivity with the anterior cingulate gyrus in response to angry and fearful facial expressions are observed in current cocaine users compared to controls. Increased amygdala activation was independently associated with earlier age of first cocaine use and with longer exposure to cocaine.

Amygdala hyperactivity to biologically salient stimuli may represent a risk factor for an early onset of cocaine use and prolonged cocaine use may further sensitize amygdala activation. High amygdala activation to emotional face processing in current cocaine users may result from low prefrontal control of the amygdala response to such stimuli.