title: The Prefrontal Cortex as a Critical Gate of Negative Affect and Motivation in Alcohol Use Disorder.
abstract: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) represents and executes the highest forms of goal-directed behavior, and has thereby attained a central neuroanatomical position in most pathophysiological conceptualizations of motivational disorders, including alcohol use disorder (AUD). Excessive, intermittent exposure to alcohol produces an allostatic dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis along with heightened forebrain glucocorticoid signaling that can damage PFC architecture and function. Negative affective states intimately associated with the transition to alcohol dependence result not only from a dysregulated HPA axis, but also from the inability of a damaged PFC to regulate subcortical stress and reinforcement centers, including the ventral striatum and amygdala. Several cognitive symptoms commonly associated with severe AUD, ranging from poor risk management to the cognitive/affective dimension of pain, are likely mediated by altered function of key anatomical elements that modulate PFC executive function, including contributions from the cingulate cortex and insula. Future therapeutic strategies for severe AUD should focus on attenuating the deleterious effects of excessive stress hormone activity on cognitive/affective and motivational behaviors gated by the PFC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Amanda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Pahng
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: M Adrienne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McGinn
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Rod I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edwards
keywords: Alcohol Use Disorder; Anterior Cingulate Cortex; Glucocorticoids; Insula; Pain; Prefrontal Cortex