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Quantitative EEG Abnormalities are Associated With Memory Impairment in Recently Abstinent Methamphetamine-Dependent Individuals

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: This study examined the association between brain electrical activity, measured using quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), and performance on measures of episodic memory in a sample of nine methamphetamine-dependent individuals who were evaluated after 4 days of monitored abstinence and 10 non-drug-using comparison subjects. In methamphetamine users, but not in comparison subjects, increased theta power was correlated with poorer performance on the delayed recall subtests of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (p<0.05). There was no association between alpha, beta, and delta power and performance on the memory tests. These results complement previous findings by demonstrating that the electrophysiological abnormalities associated with methamphetamine dependence are likely to affect behavior in an observable and important manner (i.e., memory deficits) when users are not intoxicated.

Source: Journal of Neuropsychiatry

DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.21.3.254

Authors: A. D. Kalechstein, R. De La Garza, T. F. Newton, M. F. Green, I. A. Cook, A. F. Leuchter

Institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles

Language: English

Topic: Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Center for Research Resources