The goal of this exploratory/developmental project is to investigate neurobiological mechanisms of adolescent alcohol dependence utilizing and refining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) procedures and protocol. Alcohol involvement is prevalent during adolescence, but little is known regarding its influence on cognition. Our previous studies suggested that severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms predicts neuropsychological impairments in adolescents. fMRI is a noninvasive and safe technique for examining brain functioning. However, several challenges remain for its implementation with alcohol dependent adolescents, including minimizing motion artifact, maximizing participant compliance and comfort, and characterizing normal adolescent brain activation patterns. This project seeks to characterize neural consequences of heavy drinking during adolescence by evaluating hemodynamic changes in brain regions of alcohol dependent teens and controls during performance of cognitive challenge and alcohol cue exposure tasks. In addition, we hope to refine fMRI protocol and procedures for use with alcohol dependent adolescents.
Our specific aims are: 1) to investigate activation patterns in brain regions that may be influenced by adolescent alcohol dependence and withdrawal, 2) to examine brain activation patterns associated with craving and processing alcohol-related information in teens with varied alcohol involvement histories, and 3) to optimize FMRI procedures for use with alcohol dependent adolescents. To achieve these aims, 20 alcohol dependent teens and 20 demographically matched controls will be presented with tasks designed to activate brain regions potentially involved in adolescent alcohol dependence in the fMRI environment. We hypothesize that alcohol dependent adolescents and controls will differ in brain activation patterns, both as a consequence of excessive drinking as well as in response to alcohol cues. Results will help characterize brain regions affected by heavy drinking and involved in craving states among adolescents. Resulting protocol refinement and pilot data will be used in developing a broader research program investigating neural aspects of protracted alcohol use, alcohol-related information processing, craving, etiological factors of early drinking, and predictors of future alcohol problems and problem recovery. The longer-term goal of this program of research is to develop targeted therapies for adolescents with alcohol use disorders.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 18 publications
