title: Alcohol attenuates activation in the bilateral anterior insula during an emotional processing task: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alcohol acutely reduces agitation and is widely used in social situations, but the neural substrates of emotion processing during its intoxication are not well understood. We examine whether alcohol's social stress dampening effect may be via reduced activity in the cortical systems that subserve awareness of bodily sensations, and are associated with affective distress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood oxygen level-dependent activation was measured through 24 functional magnetic resonance imaging sessions in 12 healthy volunteers during an emotional face-processing task following ingestion of a moderate dose of alcohol and a placebo beverage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results revealed that bilateral anterior insula response to emotional faces was significantly attenuated following consumption of alcohol, when compared with placebo (clusters >1472 μl; corrected P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attenuated response in the anterior insula after alcohol intake may explain some of the decreased interoceptive awareness described during intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, 4150 Edwards Building One, PO Box 210376, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA. claudiapadula@gmail.com
authors.forename: Claudia B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Padula
authors.forename: Alan N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Shannon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Susan F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Tapert
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schuckit
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Paulus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012984:Software; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D010919:Placebos; D000431:Ethanol; D010100:Oxygen