Neurobehavioral teratogenicity of gestational cocaine exposure.

Abstract

Gestational cocaine exposure has an impact on a number of behavioral and physiological measures examined during the neonatal to weaning age period. Notable effects of early cocaine exposure include a disruption in cognitive function, along with a profile of DA alterations. Observed physiological differences do not appear to be restricted, however, to the DA system, or even the nervous system. Such data may have important implications regarding the prognosis for future development of human offspring exposed gestationally to cocaine.