Cortical Gray Matter Volumes are Associated with Subjective Responses to Cocaine Infusion

We analyzed the relationship between cocaine-induced euphoria and measures of frontal and temporal gray matter volumes in eleven cocaine-dependent (CD) patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Self-reported ratings of the intensity of euphoric response to cocaine infusion were obtained from the CD subjects at 3, 10, and 30 minutes after cocaine infusion. Significant positive correlation between frontal and temporal cortical gray matter volume and the intensity of euphoria was observed at 10 minutes after IV cocaine. The data suggest that frontal and temporal lobe gray matter volume is associated with some of the reinforcing effects of cocaine. Given the well-established negative linear relationship between cortical gray matter volume and age, cortical gray matter volume may be a marker for the neurobiological substrate of the age-related reduction in addiction rates. (Am J Addict 2004;13:64-73)