title: Perspectives on fronto-fugal circuitry from human imaging of alcohol use disorders.
abstract: Descriptions of the cognitive functions affected by alcohol use disorders (AUD) often highlight dysfunction of executive processes such attention, inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Such complex cognitive functions have historically been ascribed to the prefrontal cortex. AUD, however, disrupts extensive areas of the brain. Structural and functional MRI studies suggest a central role for degradation of circuitry originating in the prefrontal cortex including nodes in widespread brain regions. This review features fronto-fugal circuits affected by AUD including frontocerebellar, frontolimbic, and frontostriatal networks and their relations to the salient, enduring, and debilitating cognitive and motor deficits reported in AUD. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "Alcoholism".
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Rd., Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Neuroscience Department, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. Electronic address: nzahr@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Natalie M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Zahr
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Rd., Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Neuroscience Department, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
authors.forename: Adolf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfefferbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Rd., Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Edith V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Cerebellum; Circuitry; Hippocampus; Limbic system; Networks; Striatum