Brain Changes with Cannabis and Methamphetamine

描述（由申请人提供）：本修订提案的总体目标是建立在南非现有的MRI/功能MRI能力的基础上，并应用新实施的结构和功能成像技术来检查南非西开普省地区的青少年的脑功能，这些青少年是单独或与大麻结合使用甲基苯丙胺的重度用户。在过去的几年里，我们已经发起了一项研究合作之间的脑成像中心（BIC）在姆克林医院，哈佛医学院和脑成像组（BIG）在斯泰伦博斯大学通过NIDA赞助的补充补助金奖励成为可能。拟议的R21旨在巩固和扩大这一合作，对南非合作伙伴进行MR方法和MR技术应用方面的培训，同时收集关于甲基苯丙胺和大麻使用影响的数据。最近在南非安装的功能性磁共振成像能力将通过以下方式得到扩大：a）提供关于磁共振方法基本概念的讲习班和指导; B）描述优化结构和功能性成像协议的战略，以最大限度地提高图像质量，并促进在个人层面上最佳地将功能性数据与结构性数据配准; d）对南非研究人员进行图像处理和形态测量和功能成像数据分析方面的培训，以开发使用SPM和Brain Voyager软件的独立图像分析能力; e）评估用于实施MR光谱学的硬件和软件需求。这些功能性磁共振成像技术将被应用于测试的假设，即额叶功能障碍，如减少BOLD信号在前扣带皮层（ACC）和背外侧前额叶皮层（DLPFC）将存在于青少年，年龄13-17，南非西开普省地区，谁是单独的甲基苯丙胺（n=10）或与大麻（n=10）相结合的重度用户，相对于匹配的未使用对照组（n=10）。然后将根据R21期间获得的数据准备R 01应用程序。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall aims of this revised proposal are to build on existing MRI/functional MRI capacity in South Africa and to apply newly implemented structural and functional imaging techniques to examine brain function in adolescents of the Western Cape region of South Africa who are heavy users of methamphetamine alone or in combination with cannabis. Over the past several years we have initiated a research collaboration between the Brain Imaging Center (BIC) at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Brain Imaging Group (BIG) at the University of Stellenbosch made possible through a NIDA sponsored supplementary grant award. The proposed R21 is designed to consolidate and extend this collaboration by training collaborative South African partners in MR methodology and the application of MR techniques while simultaneously collecting data on the effects of methamphetamine and cannabis use. Functional magnetic resonance imaging capacity, recently installed in South Africa, will be expanded by a) providing workshops and tutorials on fundamental concepts underlying MR methods; b) describing strategies for optimization of structural and functional imaging protocols in order to maximize image quality and facilitate optimal co- registration of functional to structural data at the individual level; c) reviewing approaches for development and validation of neurocognitive activation paradigms for use with fMRI; d) training of South African investigators in image processing and analysis of morphometric and functional imaging data to develop independent image analysis capacity using SPM and brain voyager software and; e) evaluating hardware and software needs for implementing MR spectroscopy. These fMRI techniques will be applied to test the hypothesis that frontal dysfunction, as measured by reduced BOLD signal in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) will be present in adolescents, aged 13-17, of the Western Cape region of South Africa, who are heavy users of methamphetamine alone (n=10) or in combination with cannabis (n=10), relative to matched non-using controls (n=10). An R01 application will then be prepared based on the data acquired during the R21 period.