title: fMRI differences between subjects with low and high responses to alcohol during a stop signal task.
abstract: A low level of response (i.e., a low LR) to alcohol is a genetically influenced phenotype that predicts later alcoholism. While the low LR reflects, at least in part, a low brain response to alcohol, the physiological underpinnings of the low LR have only recently been addressed.
  
  
  
  Forty-nine drinking but not yet alcoholic matched pairs of 18- to 25-year-old subjects (N = 98; 53% women) with low and high LRs as established in separate alcohol challenges were evaluated in 2 event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions (placebo and approximately 0.7 ml/kg of alcohol) while performing a validated stop signal task. The high and low LR groups had identical blood alcohol levels during the alcohol session.
  
  
  
  Significant high versus low LR group and LR group × condition effects were observed in blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal during error and inhibitory processing, despite similar LR group performance on the task. In most clusters with significant (corrected p < 0.05, clusters > 1,344 μl) LR group × alcohol/placebo condition interactions, the low LR group demonstrated relatively less, whereas the high LR group demonstrated more, error and inhibition-related activation after alcohol compared with placebo.
  
  
  
  This is one of the first fMRI studies to demonstrate significant differences between healthy groups with different risks of a future life-threatening disorder. The results may suggest a brain mechanism that contributes to how a low LR might enhance the risk of future heavy drinking and alcohol dependence.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037, USA. mschuckit@ucsd.edu
authors: Marc A
authors: MA
authors: Schuckit
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Tapert
authors: Scott C
authors: SC
authors: Matthews
authors: Martin P
authors: MP
authors: Paulus
authors: Neil J
authors: NJ
authors: Tolentino
authors: Tom L
authors: TL
authors: Smith
authors: Ryan S
authors: RS
authors: Trim
authors: Shana
authors: S
authors: Hall
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Simmons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol