Limbic activation during cue-induced cocaine craving

Objective: Since signals for cocaine induce limbic brain activation in anim als and cocaine craving in humans, the objective of this study was to test whether limbic activation occurs during cue-induced craving in humans. Meth od: Using positron emission tomography, the researchers measured relative r egional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in limbic and comparison brain regions of 14 detoxified male cocaine users and six cocaine-naive comparison subjects during exposure to both non-drug-related and cocaine-related videos and du ring resting baseline conditions. Results: During the cocaine video, the co caine users experienced craving and showed a pattern of increases in limbic (amygdala and anterior cingulate) CBF and decreases in basal ganglia CBF r elative to their responses to the nondrug video. This pattern did not occur in the cocaine-naive comparison subjects, and the two groups did not diffe r in their responses in the comparison regions (i.e., the dorsolateral pref rontal cortex, cerebellum, thalamus, and visual cortex). Conclusions: These findings indicate that limbic activation is one component of cue-induced c ocaine craving. Limbic activation may be similarly involved in appetitive c raving for other drugs and for natural rewards.