In the current experiment, we used the saccadometric test to study the effect of a single therapeutic dose of methadone on the integrity of cortico-subcortical brain functioning. In this prospective study, we used the Saccadometer System (Advanced Clinical Instrumentation, Cambridge, UK). The saccadometric test was performed before and 1.5 hours after methadone dosing. We analyzed the following saccadic parameters: latency, duration, amplitude, average and peak velocity, and processing performance (promptness) as well as a number of different types of saccades (like correct/incorrect, under/overshoot, and left-sided/right-sided). The sample consists of 40 subjects with an average 18 years of opioid addiction. The mean age is 35.3 ± 7 (80% males and 20% females). The mean period of heroin dependence is 15.3 ± 6.3 years. The mean daily dose of methadone in substitution therapy is 90 ± 26.5 mg. After administration of a single therapeutic dose of methadone, there were statistically significant differences in the values of saccade duration and latency when compared to the values before the drug administration. Average duration of saccade was significantly longer [51.40 ± 8.75 ms versus 48.93 ± 6.91 ms, z = 2.53, p = .01] and average latency was significantly longer [198.85 ± 52.57 ms versus 183.05 ± 30.95 ms, z = 2.09 p < .03]. This is the first study to test the therapeutic effect of daily methadone dosing on the integrity of the cortico-subcortical brain functions as measured by the saccadometry. More research is needed to explore the effect of illicit opioid use on the integrity of brain structures and functions, and the protective effect of opioid agonist therapy on reversing the damaging effects of illicit opioid use.
Background and Objectives: Evidence suggests that methadone may play a protective role in the faulty decision-making in heroinaddicted individuals. This may reduce craving for opioids and the risky decisions associated with active opioid use. Methods: We tested the effect of a daily therapeutic dose of methadone on faulty decision-making in eighty (n ¼ 80) individuals with a history of opioid addiction. We used the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and compared the score and response time before and after the daily methadone dosing. Results: The mean net IGT score before methadone dose was 10 (AE22) and 22 (AE23) after methadone dose (t ¼ 4.23, p ¼ .00006). These results reflect statistically significant improvement in faulty decisions after the administration of the daily methadone dose.The mean response time for the reward cards before methadone dose were 1,856 ms (AE871) and 1,465 ms (AE851) after methadone dose (t ¼ 2.55, p ¼ .012). The mean response time for the punishment cards before methadone dose were 1,688 ms (AE911) and 1,399 ms (AE827) after methadone dose (t ¼ 1.86, p ¼ .065). These results reflect statistically significant improvement in response time to a rewarding healthy decisions after the administration of the daily methadone dose. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: This is the first study to report the effect of a therapeutic dose of methadone on improving faulty decisions for individuals with a long history of opioids addiction. This study demonstrated that the time to making a healthy decision was significantly shorter as a result of administration of methadone. (Am J Addict
Hand-eye coordination is required in many skilled tasks. Individual differences affect the performance of people at work and leisure, for example, during assembly jobs or sports. The aim of this study was to determine whether motor learning can change the physiological action of hand tremor. Tremor is a repetitive and stereotyped movement, with regular frequency and amplitude, but there are different types of tremors with pattern variation. The results were calculated by participants ' timeon and time-off the target, the average distance from the center of the target, and the frequency of oscillatory movement of a cursor (tremor). The results of this study indicate a statistically significant (p < 0.05) influence of effect of task repetition on improvement of motor control and reduction of a high-amplitude tremor and an increase of a low-amplitude tremor. The assessed individuals achieved more than 50% better outcomes of a hand-eye coordination task in the final trials when compared with the initial trials. The dynamics of motor learning tend to rise, with a steady level of a 1-h interval between trials.
AimsThe aim of this study was to assess the differences in saccadic latency (a measure of time delay experienced in eye movements) between alcohol-dependent and healthy controls.Materials and methodsParticipantsNinety-nine alcohol dependent patients were examined. Thirty-eight healthy controls were matched to the affected cohort according to demographic characteristics.AssessmentIn this study we used the Saccadometer Advanced System (Advanced Clinical Instrumentation, Cambridge, UK). The Saccadometer System allows quick and easy collection of saccadic responses within the shortest physiologically possible time (100 saccades in 5 min). The brevity of the testing routine minimizes any potential influence on the results due to fatigue in the test subjects. The eye movement measurements are automated and synchronised with stimuli presentation. This study analyzed saccadic latency and standard deviation of mean latency.ResultsThere was higher saccadic latency and standard deviation of mean latency in alcohol-dependent individuals (224.43±56.24 msec) when compared to healthy controls (187.84±25.65 msec). A marked asymmetry of standard deviation of mean latency between right-sided and left-sided saccades was observed in the affected cohort. There was an increased standard deviation of right-sided saccades mean latency (69.96 msec) in alcohol-dependent individuals when compared to healthy controls (30.93 msec) and also an increased standard deviation of left-sided saccades mean latency (59.33 msec) when compared to healthy controls (33.09 msec).ConclusionIt was found that alcohol dependence is associated with impaired (longer time delay) saccadic reaction.
Thalamotomy is a neurosurgical procedure used in the treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aim of our research is to evaluate the early impact of a lesion in the ventrointermedial nucleus (VIM) of the thalamus on cognitive and motor function in people with PD. Sixty patients who qualified for right- or left-sided VIM thalamotomy were involved in the study. The cognitive and motor functions of each patient were assessed both prior to and following the surgical procedure. Twenty-nine PD patients without ablative treatment were qualified for the comparison group, and 57 neurologically healthy individuals were assigned to the control group. The following tests were carried out: Mini Mental State Examination, Benton Visual Retention Test, Stroop Color and Word Test, Trail Making Test A&B, and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Statistically significant differences were found in reaction time, visual-spatial working memory, auditory-verbal memory, and overall level of cognitive function when comparing the results of tests carried out before and after thalamotomy and when comparing patients who had undergone surgery with untreated or healthy individuals. In patients with right-sided and left-sided thalamotomy differences were also found in the mean number of perseverative errors and recalled words.
IntroductionThe saccadic movements are associated with activation of the certain brain regions. These cerebral areas are responsible also for controlling executive functions. In the current experiment we used an objective test (i.e. saccadometry) to study the effect of a single therapeutic dose of methadone on the integrity of cortico-subcortical brain functioning in individuals with diagnosis of heroin addiction.AimsAssessment the ocular movements (saccades) in opioid addicted subjects in the dependence of the time of substitution treatment.MethodsEighty-eight patients from the substitution program were examined (mean age 39±7.7 years, mean daily dose of methadone: 71.9±(33.4) mg) The study included 55 subjects treated with methadone from one year to three years and subjects treated with methadone from three to seven years. The examination was conducted twice: before and about 1,5 hours after the administration of a therapeutic dose of methadone. Performed Latency Task (LT) with Saccadometr diagnostic system.ResultsThe statistical analysis shows that the mean duration after the administration of methadone in the subjects treated with methadone from one year to three years was statistically significantly increased (p=0,0001) but in the subjects treated with methadone from three to seven years was no statistically significant difference (p=0,0524). No statistically significant differences were found in other parameters of the test.ConclusionThe results indicate a change in the dynamics of saccade after methadone administration in subjects treated with methadone from one year to three years compared to the subjects treated with methadone from three to seven years.
AimsThe goal of this study is to assess the differences in peak and medium velocity, peak and medium acceleration of eyeball movements after the administration of methadone.Materials and methodsTwenty-eight opioid addicts were examined. Patients admitted oculomotor impaired were excluded.In this study, we made use of the Saccadometer Advanced (Advanced Clinical Instrumentation, Cambridge, UK), allowing the measurement of eye position with the time resolution of 1 msec (1000 Hz). The eye movement measurement is automated and synchronised with stimuli presentation. Before and after the administration of methadone two saccadic tests were carried out: Prosaccades Test (PT) and Antisaccades Test (AT).ResultsThe average of peak and medium velocity and the average of peak and medium acceleration of eyeball movements in the test AT were lower than in the PT test. After administration of a single dose of methadone the peak and medium velocity, peak and medium acceleration decreased in both tests (PT and AT). After administration of methadone prolonged the duration of saccades, and prolonged the duration of rising and falling slope of saccades.ConclusionIt was found that methadone (μ-opioid receptor agonist) is associated with change of velocity and acceleration of eyeball movements.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
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