TCCI® investigator, Professor Yuan Tifei from Shanghai Mental Health Center and his team recently worked with Professor Luo Wenbo’s team from Liaoning Normal University on research, published in Molecular Psychiatry, that revealed key findings related to the neurological mechanisms behind drug cravings.
Previous studies both in laboratory animals and humans have reported that abstinence induces incubation of cue-induced drug craving for nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine. However, current experimental procedures utilized to study incubation of methamphetamine craving do not incorporate the temporal dynamics of neuropsychological measures and electrophysiological activities associated with this incubation process.
To address this, Yuan and Luo’s research used high-density electroencephalogram (EEG) signals as a rapid, inexpensive, and noninvasive measure of cue-induced craving potential. Previous studies both in laboratory animals and humans have reported that abstinence induces incubation of cue-induced drug craving for nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
Their findings will help to identify those with high risks of relapse and carry out preliminary interventions and treatments.