Imaging of language-related brain regions in detoxified alcoholics.
BACKGROUND
Neuroimaging studies showed clear evidence of alcoholism-related damage to the frontal lobes and cerebellum. Although these regions have been involved in language processing, language skills are relatively spared in alcoholics. Here, we aimed at identifying neural substrates associated with the preserved mechanisms of language processing in alcoholics. We hypothesized that alcoholics would show a different pattern of neural activity compared with the controls.


METHODS
Alcoholic and nonalcoholic subjects performed an auditory language task while receiving a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan in a 1.5 T magnet. This task has been previously shown to solicit the comprehension processing in healthy controls, with reliable fMRI response in the left frontal and temporal/parietal lobes.


RESULTS
Behavioral results showed comparable performance (error rates, response time) between the alcoholics and the matched controls. However, analysis of the functional data revealed that the alcoholics exhibited greater fMRI response in the left middle frontal gyrus (pars triangularis), the right superior frontal gyrus, and the cerebellar vermis relative to the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that frontocerebellar neural activity, supporting the comprehension processing of the auditory language task, may require compensatory mechanisms in alcoholics in order to maintain the same level of performance as the controls.
Chanraud-Guillermo
Sandra
S
INSERM U797 Research Unit, Neuroimaging & Psychiatry, 4 place du Général Leclerc, Orsay, France.
Andoh
Jamila
J
Martelli
Catherine
C
Artiges
Eric
E
Pallier
Christophe
C
Aubin
Henri-Jean
HJ
Martinot
Jean-Luc
JL
Reynaud
Michel
M
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D007802:Language; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol