Acute Aerobic Exercise Ameliorates Cravings and Inhibitory Control in Heroin Addicts: Evidence From Event-Related Potentials and Frequency Bands

Dongshi Wang, Ting Zhu, Jiachen Chen, Yingzhi Lu, Chenglin Zhou, Yu-Kai Chang, Dongshi Wang, Ting Zhu, Jiachen Chen, Yingzhi Lu, Chenglin Zhou, Yu-Kai Chang

Abstract

Objective: Aerobic exercise is considered a potential adjunctive treatment for heroin addicts, but little is known about its mechanisms. Less severe cravings and greater inhibitory control have been associated with reduced substance use. The aim of the current study was to determine the effects, as measured by behavioral and neuroelectric measurements, of acute aerobic exercise on heroin cravings and inhibitory control induced by heroin-related conditions among heroin addicts.

Design: The present study used a randomized controlled design.

Methods: Sixty male heroin addicts who met the DSM-V criteria were recruited from the Isolated Detoxification Center in China and randomly assigned to one of two groups; one group completed a 20-min bout of acute stationary cycle exercise with vigorous intensity (70-80% of maximum heart rate, exercise group), and the other group rested (control group). The self-reported heroin craving levels and inhibitory control outcomes (measured by a heroin-related Go/No-Go task) were assessed pre- and post-exercise.

Results: The heroin craving levels in the exercise group were significantly attenuated during, immediately following, and 40 min after vigorous exercise compared with before exercise; moreover, during exercise, a smaller craving was observed in the exercise group than in the control group. Acute exercise also facilitated inhibition performance in the No-Go task. After exercise, the participants' accuracy, the N2d amplitudes, and the theta two band spectral power during the No-Go conditions were higher in the exercise group than in the control group. Interestingly, significant correlations between the changes in these sensitive measurements and the changes in cravings were observed.

Conclusions: This is the first empirical study to demonstrate that aerobic exercise may be efficacious for reducing heroin cravings and promoting inhibitory control among heroin addicts.

Keywords: N2d; acute aerobic exercise; heroin addicts; inhibitory control; theta.

Copyright © 2020 Wang, Zhu, Chen, Lu, Zhou and Chang.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Illustration of the heroin-related Go/No-Go task. Press the space bar as quickly as possible when the stimulus interface presents an image with a yellow frame (i.e., Go trial: Go-Neutral or Go-Heroin) but withhold the response when an image with a blue frame is presented (i.e., No-Go trial: No-Go-Neutral or No-Go-Heroin).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Craving level alterations before test, before exercise, during exercise, immediately after exercise, and 60 min after exercise in two groups. ∗Represents a significant difference between exercise and control group, p < 0.05. ##represents craving at this time point is less than that at pre-task and pre-exercise in exercise group, p < 0.01.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Accuracy of heroin-related Go/No-Go task as a function of group and time point. ∗∗Represents a significant difference between pre- and post-test in heroin cue No-Go and neutral cue No-Go condition, p < 0.01.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Grand average ERPs between exercise group (Black) and control group (Gray) at Fz, FCz, Cz, and Pz for Go trials (Dot lines) and No-Go trials (Solid lines) for four tests: Heroin cue pre- and post-test and Neutral cue pre- and post-test.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
The difference waveforms between No-Go and Go ERPs in exercise and control groups for four tests: Heroin cue pre- and post-test and Neutral cue pre- and post-test, respectively.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
The spectral powers of FCz site between the exercise group and the control group in the heroin-related Go/No-Go task. ∗Represents a significant difference between exercise group and control group in post-test in heroin cue No-Go condition, p < 0.05.
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Scatter plots for the correlation. (A) Correlation between ΔNo-Go accuracy and ΔVAS; (B) correlation between ΔN2d amplitude and ΔVAS; and (C) correlation between Δtheta 2 power and ΔVAS.

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