Prefrontal Cortical Dysfunction in Abstinent Cocaine Abusers

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and lateral prefrontal (LPFC) cortex are brain regions impor-tant to executive cognitive functions (ECF). We determined ACC and LPFC function in 23-day abstinent cocaine abusers using positron emission tomography (PET H2 15O) during performance of a modified version of the Stroop Task. Cocaine abusers showed less activation than non-drug-using comparison subjects in the left ACC and the right LPFC and greater activation in the right ACC. Average amount of cocaine used per week was negatively correlated with activity in the ros-tral ACC and right LPFC. Disruption of ECF in substance abusers could interfere with attempts t