Cognitive Control Deficits in Alcohol Dependence Are a Trait- and State-Dependent Biomarker: An ERP Study

Problematic Gaming and Gambling: A Systematic Review of Task-Specific EEG Protocols

Even though gaming and gambling bear similar problematic behavioral aspects, there are no recognizable neurophysiological biomarkers or features characterizing and/or distinguishing these conditions. A systematic review of the literature with a focus on methods was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (Web of Science Core Collection), EBSCOhost Research Databases (APA PsycINFO; APA PsycArticles; OpenDissertations; ERIC) databases. Following search terms were used to search the databases: ERP, "event related potential*", EP, "evoked potential*", SS, "steady state", EEG, electroencephal*; gam*. Data about the participants (total number, gender, age), main aim of the study and information about the experimental setup (experimental task description, stimuli used, ERPs measured (latency windows and placement of the electrodes), process evaluated) was extracted. A total of 24 studies were revised (problematic gaming - 16, pathological gambling - 8). The experimental protocols could be grouped into 3 main target domains (Cue-reactivity, General Information processing and Reward Processes & Risk Assessment). Sample-related limitations (small sample sizes, gender differences, differences between the groups regarding potential confounding variables) and heterogeneity regarding the experimental tasks, implementation and interpretation reviewed. Gambling-related research is highly focused on the investigation of the reward-related processes, whereas gaming-related research is mostly focused on the altered aspects of more general information processing. A vast heterogeneity regarding the ERP experimental paradigms being used and lack of clear guidelines and standardized procedures prevents identification of measures capable to reliably discriminate or characterize the population susceptible to addictive behavior or being able to diagnose and monitor these disorders.

Proactive Versus Reactive Control Strategies Differentially Mediate Alcohol Drinking in Male Wistars and P Rats

Problematic alcohol consumption is associated with deficits in decision-making and alterations in prefrontal cortex neural activity likely contribute. We hypothesized that the differences in cognitive control would be evident between male Wistars and a model of genetic risk: alcohol-preferring P rats. Cognitive control is split into proactive and reactive components. Proactive control maintains goal-directed behavior independent of a stimulus, whereas reactive control elicits goal-directed behavior at the time of a stimulus. We hypothesized that Wistars would show proactive control over alcohol seeking whereas P rats would show reactive control over alcohol seeking. Neural activity was recorded from the prefrontal cortex during an alcohol seeking task with two session types. On congruent sessions, the conditioned stimulus (CS+) was on the same side as alcohol access. Incongruent sessions presented alcohol opposite the CS+. Wistars, but not P rats, made more incorrect approaches during incongruent sessions, suggesting that Wistars utilized the previously learned rule. This motivated the hypothesis that neural activity reflecting proactive control would be observable in Wistars but not P rats. While P rats showed differences in neural activity at times of alcohol access, Wistars showed differences prior to approaching the sipper. These results support our hypothesis that Wistars are more likely to engage in proactive cognitive control strategies whereas P rats are more likely to engage in reactive cognitive control strategies. Although P rats were bred to prefer alcohol, the differences in cognitive control may reflect a sequela of behaviors that mirror those in humans at risk for an AUD.

Proactive Versus Reactive Control Strategies Differentially Mediate Alcohol Drinking in Wistar and P rats

Problematic alcohol consumption is associated with deficits in decision-making, and alterations in prefrontal cortex neural activity likely contributes. We hypothesized that differences in cognitive control would be evident between male Wistar rats and a model for genetic risk for alcohol use disorder (alcohol-preferring P rats). Cognitive control can be split into proactive and reactive components. Proactive control maintains goal-directed behavior independent of a stimulus whereas reactive control elicits goal-directed behavior at the time of a stimulus. We hypothesized that Wistars would show proactive control over alcohol-seeking whereas P rats would show reactive control over alcohol-seeking. Neural ensembles were recorded from prefrontal cortex during an alcohol seeking task that utilized two session types. On congruent sessions the CS+ was on the same side as alcohol access. Incongruent sessions presented alcohol opposite the CS+. Wistars, but not P rats, exhibited an increase in incorrect approaches during incongruent sessions, suggesting that Wistars utilized the previously learned task-rule. This motivated the hypothesis that ensemble activity reflecting proactive control would be observable in Wistars but not P rats. While P rats showed differences in neural activity at times relevant for alcohol delivery, Wistars showed differences prior to approaching the sipper. These results support our hypothesis that Wistars are more likely to engage proactive cognitive-control strategies whereas P rats are more likely to engage reactive cognitive control strategies. Although P rats were bred to prefer alcohol, differences in cognitive control may reflect a sequela of behaviors that mirror those in humans at risk for an AUD.

Effects of the application timing of anti-erosive agents on dentin erosion

This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effects of the application timing of anti-erosive agents on dentin erosion. Eighty dentin specimens with dimensions of 2 × 2 × 2 mm were prepared and randomly divided into 4 groups based on the treatment solutions: 1.23 × 104 μg/ml sodium fluoride (NaF), 120 μg/ml chlorhexidine (CHX), 300 μg/ml quercetin (QUE), and deionized water (DW, negative control). The specimens in each group were further divided into 2 subgroups according to the application timing of the treatment solutions (n = 10): before the erosive challenges (PRE) and after the erosive challenges (POST). All specimens were submitted to 4 daily erosive challenges for 5 d. For each erosive challenge, the specimens in the subgroup PRE were treated with the respective solutions for 2 min and then immersed in cola drinks for 5 min, while the specimens in the subgroup POST were immersed in cola drinks for 5 min followed by treatment with the respective solutions for 2 min. The erosive dentin loss (EDL) was measured using a contact profilometer, and the surface morphology of the dentin specimens was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy at the end of the experiment. The data were statistically analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni's test (α = 0.05). Significantly less EDL was observed in the groups NaF, CHX, and QUE than in the group DW (all P < 0.001). Significantly lower EDL was observed in the groups CHX and QUE than in the group NaF (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). For CHX, subgroup POST exhibited significantly less EDL than subgroup PRE (P < 0.001). Regarding QUE, subgroup PRE showed significantly less EDL than subgroup POST (P < 0.001). Furthermore, a relatively greater number of obliterated dentinal tubules was visible in the subgroup POST rather than in the subgroup PRE of the group CHX, while in the group QUE, narrower dentinal tubules were observed in the subgroup PRE than those in subgroup POST. In conclusion, CHX and QUE showed the best performance in controlling dentin erosion. CHX was more effective in reducing EDL when applied after erosive challenges, whereas QUE worked more effectively when used before erosive attacks. The application timing should be considered when evaluating the effects of anti-erosive agents because it may determine their effectiveness.

The Association of P300 Components With Clinical Characteristics and Efficacy of Pharmacotherapy in Alcohol Use Disorder

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to explore the association of P300 components with clinical characteristics and efficacy of pharmacotherapy in alcohol use disorder (AUD).

METHODS

One hundred fifty-one AUD patients and 96 healthy controls were recruited and evaluated for the symptoms of depression, anxiety, sleep, and cognitive function by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST), and event-related potential P300, which is one of the averaged scalp electroencephalography responses time-locked to specific events. Among the AUD group, 101 patients finished an 8-week pharmacotherapy and were evaluated for the above data at post-intervention.

RESULTS

1. At baseline, AUD patients had higher scores of AUDIT, PHQ-9, GAD-7, PSQI, and P300 latency at Cz, Pz, and Fz and lower DSST score and smaller P300 amplitudes at Fz, Cz, and Pz compared with controls. P300 components correlated significantly with alcohol dose and score of AUDIT, PHQ-9, GAD-7, PSQI, and DSST. 2. After 8 weeks' treatment, there were significant changes for the P300 components; alcohol dose; and score of AUDIT, PHQ-9, GAD-7, PSQI, and DSST. Variables at baseline, including P300 amplitudes at Fz, Cz, and Pz; latency of Fz and Pz; alcohol dose; and scores of PHQ-9, GAD-7, PSQI, and DSST, were significantly associated with changes of reduction rate of AUDIT scores. However, P300 amplitudes at Fz, Cz, and Pz in AUD patients after 8-week treatment were still significantly shorter than healthy controls (HCs), and P300 latencies at Fz, Cz, and Pz were significantly longer than HCs. 3. When validated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was over 0.80, the baseline variables including amplitudes at Cz and Pz, alcohol dose, and scores of PSQI could predict the changes of reduction rate of AUDIT score.

CONCLUSION

P300 amplitudes and latencies at Fz, Cz, and Pz could be used as biological markers for evaluating the clinical characters and severity of AUD. P300 amplitudes at Cz and Pz, sleep condition, and cognitive function at baseline could predict the efficacy of pharmacotherapy for AUD patients.

Persistence of Neuronal Alterations in Alcohol-Dependent Patients at Conclusion of the Gold Standard Withdrawal Treatment: Evidence From ERPs

Background: One of the main challenges for clinicians is to ensure that alcohol withdrawal treatment is the most effective possible after discharge. To address this issue, we designed a pilot study to investigate the efficacy of the rehabilitation treatment on the main stages of information processing, using an electroencephalographic method. This topic is of main importance as relapse rates after alcohol withdrawal treatment remain very high, indicating that established treatment methods are not fully effective in all patients in the long run. Method: We examined in alcohol-dependent patients (ADP) the effects of the benzodiazepine-based standard detoxification program on event-related potential components at incoming (D0) and completion (D15) of the treatment, using tasks of increasing difficulty (with and without workload) during an auditory oddball target paradigm. Untreated non-alcohol-dependent-volunteers were used as matching controls. Results: At D0, ADP displayed significantly lower amplitude for all ERP components in both tasks, as compared to controls. At D15, this difference disappeared for the amplitude of the N1 component during the workload-free task, as well as the amplitude of the P3b for both tasks. Meanwhile, the amplitude of the N2 remained lower in both tasks for ADP. At D0, latencies of N2 and P3b in both task conditions were longer in ADP, as compared to controls, whilst the latency of N1 was unchanged. At D15, the N2 latency remained longer for the workload condition only, whereas the P3b latency remained longer for the workload-free task only. Conclusion: The present pilot results provide evidence for a persistence of impaired parameters of ERP components, especially the N2 component. This suggests that neural networks related to attention processing remain dysfunctional. Longitudinal long-term follow-up of these patients is mandatory for further assessment of a link between ERP alterations and a later risk of relapse.