Changes in the Electroencephalogram During a Cycle of Morphine Addiction

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Abstract
The complete cycle of morphine addiction, withdrawal, and recovery was studied under conditions which permitted the adm. of morphine in amts. less than, equal to, and greater than the addiction requirements. Two patients, whose last previous addictions had terminated several mos. before the beginning of the study, were used as subjects. A 4 channel amplifier-oscillograph system was used with photographic recording on bromide paper. All recording was done with the patient in a darkened, soundproof room. All movements and other disturbances were recorded on the film. An attempt was made to maintain the patient in a steady state of relaxation during each recording, and particular care was taken to prevent sleep. Hair was clipped at each electrode position and in this way the initial electrode placements were duplicated on subsequent runs. In the records, only groups of 3 or more waves were considered to constitute a rhythm, and no activity of less than 5 microvolts amplitude was measured. After preliminary measurements, morphine was administered subcut., the size and frequency of the doses being adjusted to obtain the desired exptl. conditions. The as- sumption of a cortical excitatory state satisfactorily explains the action of repeated doses of morphine. The decrease in cortical excitatory state produced by repeated doses of morphine is not due to a decrease in the number of exteroceptive stimuli received by the brain. Tolerance to the cortical depressing effect appears to be developed at quite different rates in different individuals.

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