-Caveat Lector-
Single Cocaine Dose Has Bigger
Impact On Brain Than Thought
By Mike Collett-White
5-31-1
LONDON (Reuters) - A single 'snort' of cocaine has a
bigger and more lasting effect on the brain than
previously thought, scientists said on Wednesday.
Researchers at the University of California, San
Francisco found that the illegal drug can change the
way nerve connections transmit signals in the part of
the brain crucially involved in addiction.
From the very first contact with the drug, interlinked
neurons become more strongly connected -- a process
known as potentiation.
Because the process occurs in the part of the brain
involved in increased craving, cocaine users are
vulnerable to addictive urges for a sustained period of
time.
``You think you are getting two hours of pleasure but
for one week you are vulnerable to wanting more
cocaine,'' researcher Antonello Bonci told Reuters.
``So the hypothesis is: think twice about using
cocaine.''
Drug users normally take 'coke' in powder form nasally.
According to the research, published in the Nature
journal, potentiation is still observed up to one week
after cocaine exposure.
``The incredible thing is that cocaine is producing a
change in the activity in the brain that basically uses
the same mechanism as normal learning and memory
processes but in a different region,'' Bonci said.
``The normal capacity for strengthening links between
cells is usurped by the drugs. This is the first
demonstration that direct functional change is
happening as a consequence of exposure to drug
abuse.''
FINDINGS ARE NEW
Co-researcher Mark Ungless said the findings went
further than previous investigations into the impact of
drug use and abuse on the brain.
``There was no evidence before that a single dose of
cocaine was having such a large effect on the brain
and in such an important area,'' he said. ``Most people
using cocaine may be surprised to know that the effect
is so long lasting.''
He also said that the extent of changes was far greater
than expected.
``It is sometimes difficult to show any connections
getting stronger (after drug dosage), but in this case
the effect was very large,'' he said. ``Cocaine was
shown to be changing all the connections. It is
surprising to see such a big effect.''
Scientists believe that the research provides clues
about why people become hooked on addictive drugs.
It may also provide a more ``subtle'' message to drug
users, giving them more informed warnings of the risks
posed rather than focusing simply on how damaging
banned substances can be.
The experiment involved analysis of behavior in mice
after they had been injected with a dose of cocaine.
In some cases the animals were then tested for
electrical activity in the brain.
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