title: Acute alcohol effects on contextual memory BOLD response: differences based on fragmentary blackout history.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Contextual memory, or memory for source details, is an important aspect of episodic memory and has been implicated in alcohol-induced fragmentary blackouts (FBs). Little is known, however, about how neural functioning during contextual memory processes may differ between individuals with and without a history of FB. This study examined whether neural activation during a contextual memory task differed by history of FB and acute alcohol consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four matched individuals with (FB+; n = 12) and without (FB-; n = 12) a history of FBs were recruited from a longitudinal study of alcohol use and behavioral risks and completed a laboratory beverage challenge followed by 2 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions under no alcohol and alcohol (breath alcohol concentration = 0.08%) conditions. Task performance and brain hemodynamic activity during a block design contextual memory task were examined across 48 fMRI sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Groups demonstrated no differences in performance on the contextual memory task, yet exhibited different brain response patterns after alcohol intoxication. A significant FB group by beverage interaction emerged in bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex with FB- individuals showing greater blood oxygenation level-dependent response after alcohol exposure (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol had differential effects on neural activity for FB+ and FB- individuals during recollection of contextual information, perhaps suggesting a neurobiological mechanism associated with alcohol-induced FB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA. rwetherill@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Reagan R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wetherill
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Schnyer
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fromme
mesh_terms: D020268:Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001944:Breath Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol