Blunted Hemodynamic Response to a Methylphenidate Challenge in Regular Users of Amphetamine: An ASL Based Pharmacological MRI Study

Marieke L. J. Schouw¹, Matthan W. A. Caan¹, Aart J. Nederveen¹, Liesbeth Reneman¹

In this study we used arterial spin labelling to compare the change in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in response to an oral challenge with methylphenidate between healthy controls and amphetamine users. CBF data before and after the challenge were averaged. We registered data to both individual space and standard space, looking at mean CBF in caudate, putamen, thalamus and hippocampus. In line with previous (PET) studies, a marked decrease in CBF in response to methylphenidate was seen in healthy controls, not amphetamine users. This blunted response is most likely caused by changes to the dopaminergic system induced by amphetamine use.