Inhibitory Control of Former Drug Users.

Abstract

Inhibitory control is one of the characteristic functions of the prefrontal cortex by which inappropriate responses to extrinsic stimuli are avoided. On the other hand, poor inhibitory control and perseveration are the common symptoms among drug users. A little known study related to the inhibitory control, including the perseveration among former drug users in Indonesia. The Go/ NoGo task was used during the research. Seventeen former drug users and seventeen controls with no record in drug abuse were asked to do the Go/ NoGo task. Former drug users show the same ability to recognize the meaning of the cue, i.e Go cue and NoGo cue, as well as in controls. However, we found the difficulty to stop Go response in NoGo trials in former drug users, which means the failure of inhibitory response. The perseveration to the old meaning of cue was also found during the reversal phase of the task. Our study suggests that less inhibitory control and perseveration behavior occurred in former drug users. These findings suggest that even the former drug users already finished or in progress of rehabilitation program, they may still have the tendency to initiate the drug abuse. Keyword: former drug users, Go/ NoGo task, inhibitory control, perseveration