Abstract:
Background: Despite its negative consequences, substance addiction is a persistent, relapsing
disorder characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behaviour. Substance use and addiction
have been rapidly increasing public health problems all over the world. According to empirical
evidence, substances directly affect individuals' memory, attention, decision-making, and
executive functions, impacting various regions of the brain. Neural circuitry and
neurotransmitter changes associated with substance addiction are leading causes of cognitive
impairment.
Objective: To reveal the specific neural mechanisms associated with cognitive deficits in the
human brain
Methods: Scientific evidence was gathered by referring to more than 20 articles that are
included in Google Scholar, PubMed, and ELSEVIER databases. This study was mainly
conducted by referring to scientific articles that have been published within 10 years.
Results: Results revealed that the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens internalize the
reward stimuli regulating the dopaminergic system that can be induced by psychoactive
substances. Then, long-term substance use associated with serotonergic and GABA activity
leads to changes in the executive functions in the prefrontal cortex and the inhibitory control.
Conclusion: Considering the empirical evidence, prolonged usage of substances is capable of
deteriorating individuals’ cognitive functions drastically. Hence, a multidisciplinary approach
including neurology, genetics, public health, and psychology is a crucial requirement to
manage these substance-related cognitive impairments. Early identification can be used to
mitigate the severity of the impairments.
