Neurons throughout the brain are affected by cocaine use, according to studies presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Atlanta.

Reuters reported Oct. 18 that researchers found that cocaine impairs neuron function in a number of brain areas, but especially the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in impulse control and risk assessment.

A study on neural signaling among cocaine addicts found that responses in the prefrontal cortex were decreased, and addicts had problems assigning value to varying amounts of money. "More than half of the addicts could not differentiate between values," said researcher Rita Goldstein of Brookhaven National Laboratory, who noted that the finding may mean that monetary incentives may not work to encourage cocaine addicts to abstain.

Goldstein also said that some of the damage caused by cocaine seems to persist even after drug use is discontinued.