A recent study from our group reported MR volumetric decreases in cortical gray matter, thalamus and putamen34 in prenatally cocaine exposed children when compared with a group of children, who were not exposed to cocaine. The groups were matched on age and IQ, and significant differences remained after controlling for gender. Furthermore, we observed an inverse relationship between the exposure level and the thalamic and putaminal volumes. Both groups were exposed to marijuana, tobacco and alcohol but not to methamphetamine. No correlation was seen between alcohol or tobacco exposure and structure volumes, but a reduction in the putaminal volume was noticed in two heavily alcohol-exposed subjects, neither of them exposed to cocaine. When these subjects were removed from the control group, the significance in putaminal volume changes remained.
