Electroencephalographic power and coherence analyses suggest altered brain function in abstinent male heroin-dependent patients

Ingmar H. A. Franken, Cornelis J. Stam, Vincent M. Hendriks, Wim van den Brink

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

56 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that drug abuse is associated with altered brain function. However, studies of heroin abuse-related brain dysfunctions are scarce. Electroencephalographic ( EEG) power and coherence analyses are two important tools for examining the effects of drugs on brain function. In the present study, we compared EEG power and coherence measures of 18 abstinent heroin-dependent subjects with those of 12 healthy control subjects. Furthermore, within the heroin group, associations between heroin use in the past, heroin craving and these EEG measures were studied. The results show that heroin-dependent subjects have increased relative beta-2 power and increased left intrahemispheric gamma coherence compared with control subjects. Furthermore, coherence measures showed correlations with clinical variables. These EEG abnormalities may reflect underlying changes in brain function due to long-term drug abuse and premorbid characteristics. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)105-110
Number of pages6
JournalNeuropsychobiology
Volume49
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Brain Mapping
  • Brain/physiopathology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Functional Laterality
  • Heroin Dependence/physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male

Cite this