Brain Potentials and Morphine Addiction

Abstract

Brain potential records have been taken on a series of fifty men during maintained addiction to morphine, and on a second series of fifty men whose addiction had been terminated for at least one year. Neither group shows alpha percentage distribution curves in agreement with those found by other workers for normal groups. The addiction state is characterized by an abnormally high alpha output. In some cases the high alpha index is maintained following withdrawal, while in others there is a sharp drop. Abnormal rhythms were found in severely addicted patients and these were greatly reduced following withdrawal. In general, a single dose of morphine in a non-addict had no appreciable effect on the cortical potentials. In one case, however, sleep rhythms were recorded when the patient was definitely not asleep. The high alpha output was maintained during the active phase of withdrawal, in spite of a high degree of emotional tension, a factor which usually abolishes the alpha rhythm.