Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41009237›Full record

ArticleBehavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)2025

When the Mind Cannot Shift: Cognitive Flexibility Impairments in Methamphetamine-Dependent Individuals.

Xikun Zhang, Yue Li, Qikai Zhang, Yuan Wang, Jifan Zhou, Meng Zhang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Xikun ZhangDepartment of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.ORCID 0009-0003-3615-1417
Yue LiDepartment of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Qikai ZhangDepartment of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.ORCID 0009-0005-3965-8461
Yuan WangDepartment of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Jifan ZhouDepartment of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0166-7125
Meng ZhangDepartment of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.ORCID 0000-0002-6238-4148

Funding

the Project of Humanities and Social Sciences Research by the Ministry of Education of China 18YJC190032the Zhejiang Provincial Basic Public Welfare Research Program LGF21C09000
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cognitive flexibility-the ability to adapt cognitive strategies and behavioral responses in changing environments-is a key component of executive function, supporting rule updating and conflict resolution. Individuals with substance addiction often exhibit behavioral rigidity and reduced adaptability, reflecting impairments in this domain. This study examined cognitive flexibility in individuals with methamphetamine dependence through three behavioral tasks-intra-dimensional task switching, extra-dimensional task switching, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST)-in combination with a subjective self-report measure. Results showed that, compared to healthy controls, methamphetamine-dependent individuals demonstrated elevated reaction time switch costs in Intra-dimensional Task Switching and increased accuracy switch costs in Extra-dimensional Task Switching, as well as more perseverative and non-perseverative errors in the WCST. These findings suggested not only reduced performances in explicitly cued rule updating and strategic shifting but also deficits in feedback-driven learning and inflexibility in cognitive set shifting on methamphetamine-dependent individuals. Moreover, their self-reported cognitive flexibility scores were aligned with their objective performance, significantly lower than healthy controls. In summary, these findings revealed consistent cognitive flexibility impairments at both behavioral and subjective levels in individuals with methamphetamine dependence, indicating a core executive dysfunction that may undermine adaptive functioning in real-life contexts. The study offers critical insights into the cognitive mechanisms underlying addiction and provides a theoretical foundation for targeted cognitive interventions.

Indexed as

cognitive flexibilitymethamphetamine-dependenttask switchingWCST

Identifiers

PMID41009237
PMCPMC12466476

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.