Functional imaging of cognitive control during acute alcohol intoxication.
BACKGROUND
The anterior cingulate and several other prefrontal and parietal brain regions are implicated in error processing and cognitive control. The effects of different doses of alcohol on activity within these brain regions during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) task where errors are frequently committed have not been fully explored.


METHODS
This study examined the impact of a placebo [breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) = 0.00%], moderate (BrAC = 0.05%), and high (BrAC = 0.10%) doses of alcohol on brain hemodynamic activity during a functional MRI (fMRI) Go/No-Go task in 38 healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
Alcohol increased reaction time and false alarm errors in a dose-dependent manner. fMRI analyses showed alcohol decreased activity in anterior cingulate, lateral prefrontal cortex, insula, and parietal lobe regions during false alarm responses to No-Go stimuli.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that brain regions implicated in error processing are affected by alcohol and might provide a neural basis for alcohol's effects on behavioral performance.
Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living at Hartford Hospital, Connecticut, USA. dr.beth.anderson@gmail.com
Beth M
BM
Anderson
Michael C
MC
Stevens
Shashwath A
SA
Meda
Kathryn
K
Jordan
Vince D
VD
Calhoun
Godfrey D
GD
Pearlson
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003071:Cognition; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol