Model Based Analysis of tDCS Effects on Brain Networks in Methamphetamine Addicts

, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology Hariri, Ali (Author) ; Fatemizadeh, Emadodin (Supervisor) ; Ekhtiari, Hamed (Co-Advisor)

Abstract

Despite intensive scientific investigations, drug addiction treatment outcomes have not significantly improved in more than 30 years. The addicted human brain can be conceptualized as a set of networks that spatially and temporally interact with each other in an abnormal way. Over the past several decades, neuroimaging techniques have contributed important novel insights into the neuroplastic alterations that result from drug dependence. Also functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) has emerged as a powerful tool for mapping large-scale networks in the human brain. On the other hand, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reintroduced as a noninvasive brain...

Functional Mapping of Regions Involved In Addiction Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Proposing a New Measure for Multivariate Methods

, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology Faghiri, Ashkan (Author) ; Vosughi Vahdat, Bijan (Supervisor) ; Ekhtiari, Hamed (Co-Advisor)

Abstract

Methamphetamine (meth) abuse and addiction (MA), with its serious medical, psychiatric and social complications, is a growing national disaster in Iran. Response control deficit during exposure to drug related cues is one of the main neurocognitive cores in MA and results in continued drug use and treatment failure. There have been many studies focused on cue exposure, but most of their paradigms required subjects to passively view the cues; this aspect of these paradigms cause a wide gap between reality and experimental studies. Developing a functional and structural neuroimaging protocol to map realistic brain circuits that are involved in craving among meth users is of importance....

Treatment of Methamphetamine Addiction Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology Rahimi Kandehlani, Zeinab (Author) ; Vosughi Vahdat, Bijan (Supervisor)

Abstract

Substance use disorder has always been one of the biggest challenges in the field of drug addiction. However, many substance use disorders have no drug treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive brain stimulation method. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is expected to reduce cravings and risk of relapse by regulating brain function. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation on the treatment of methamphetamine addiction. In this research, the effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation twice a day on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex area of the brain during the time...