fMRI BOLD response to the eyes task in offspring from multiplex alcohol dependence families.
BACKGROUND
Increased susceptibility for developing alcohol dependence (AD) may be related to structural and functional differences in brain circuits that influence social cognition and more specifically, theory of mind (ToM). Alcohol dependent individuals have a greater likelihood of having deficits in social skills and greater social alienation. These characteristics may be related to inherited differences in the neuroanatomical network that comprises the social brain.


METHODS
Adolescent/young adult participants from multiplex AD families and controls (n = 16) were matched for gender, age, IQ, education, and handedness and administered the Eyes Task of Baron-Cohen during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).


RESULTS
High-risk (HR) subjects showed significantly diminished blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response in comparison with low-risk control young adults in the right middle temporal gyrus (RMTG) and the left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG), areas that have previously been implicated in ToM tasks.


CONCLUSIONS
Offspring from multiplex families for AD may manifest one aspect of their genetic susceptibility by having a diminished BOLD response in brain regions associated with performance of ToM tasks. These results suggest that those at risk for developing AD may have reduced ability to empathize with others' state of mind, possibly resulting in diminished social skill.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. syh50@imap.pitt.edu
Shirley Y
SY
Hill
Bryan
B
Kostelnik
Brian
B
Holmes
Dhruman
D
Goradia
Michael
M
McDermott
Vaibhav
V
Diwadkar
Matcheri
M
Keshavan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000679:Amygdala / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D003469:Culture; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D018187:Personal Construct Theory; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*