Researchers have identified a specific pattern of brain activity that can distinguish people with cocaine use disorder from those without the condition. This brain activity pattern can also predict whether a person will respond well to a magnetic brain stimulation therapy designed to reduce cravings. The study detailing these results was published in Nature Mental Health.
Cocaine use disorder involves compulsive drug use and high rates of relapse. Current psychosocial treatments help some patients, but many people still struggle to recover. Medical professionals need objective biological markers to better diagnose the condition and develop targeted treatments.
To find these markers, researchers often look at the brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging. This technology measures blood flow in the brain to detect which areas are active at the same time. When different brain regions activate together while a person is resting, scientists consider them to be functionally connected.
Functional connectivity shows how different parts of the brain communicate to form complex networks. Previous imaging research has shown that cocaine addiction alters brain structure and task-related brain activity. However, observing the resting communication between brain networks can provide a more sensitive measure of brain dysfunction.
Source: PsyPost — Read the full article on the original site ↗