Neuroimaging and Brain Cell Structure and Function in Substance Abuse (In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence of Neurotoxicity in Substance Abuse)

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between brain structure (as measured by brain imagining) and genetic/cellular processes in new brain cells (generated from skin cells taken) in (a) people who use cocaine and (b) people who are similar in age, race, and gender but do not use cocaine (“healthy control participants”).

As part of this research, the CRNA will be collecting a small skin sample to create new cells, also known as “iPS” cells, which can become individual brain cells in the lab (e.g. petri dishes). Eligible participants will be asked to give a urine sample, take a series of cognitive tests (memory attention, reading), have a sample of their skin collected via a skin biopsy, and have images of their brain taken with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner while resting. The study will occur over two days and will take approximately 5-6 hours total.