Brain Activity in Adolescent Binge Drinkers Revealed in MRI Study

A new report discusses findings from a preliminary study on the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response during verbal encoding among adolescent binge drinkers. Researchers have long known that chronic heavy drinking is associated with verbal learning and memory deficits in adolescents and adults, but little is known about the effects of verbal encoding in less frequently drinking teens. The study, led by A.D. Schweinsburg and colleagues at Yale University's Department of Psychiatry, aimed to examine fMRI response during verbal encoding among adolescent binge drinkers.

The study recruited 12 binge drinkers and 12 demographically similar nondrinkers from local high schools, aged 16-18. Participants were nonsmokers, and drinkers were abstinent from alcohol for an average of 33 days at the time of scanning. During fMRI acquisition, participants performed a verbal paired associates learning task. Results showed that drinkers recalled marginally fewer words than nondrinkers. Compared to nondrinkers, binge drinkers demonstrated more response in right superior frontal and bilateral posterior parietal cortices but less response in occipital cortex during novel encoding.

The study's findings suggest that adolescent binge drinkers show more response than nondrinkers in frontal and parietal regions, which could indicate increased engagement of working memory systems during encoding. However, they also demonstrate no hippocampal activation to novel word pairs, and slightly poorer word pair recall, which could indicate disadvantaged processing of novel verbal information and a slower learning slope.

Key Takeaways:

• Adolescent binge drinkers showed more response than nondrinkers in right superior frontal and bilateral posterior parietal cortices during novel encoding.
• Binge drinkers demonstrated no hippocampal activation to novel word pairs during verbal encoding.
• Participants who binge drank recalled marginally fewer words than nondrinkers during the verbal paired associates learning task.
• The study's findings suggest that chronic heavy drinking may lead to hypersensitivity in certain brain regions and disadvantageous processing of novel verbal information.

Statistics:

• 28% of 12th graders reported getting drunk in the past month (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism).
• 12 binge drinkers and 12 demographically similar nondrinkers participated in the study (Schweinsburg et al., 2010).
• Participants were abstinent from alcohol for an average of 33 days at the time of scanning (Schweinsburg et al., 2010).
• Drinkers recalled marginally fewer words than nondrinkers (p = 0.07) during the verbal paired associates learning task (Schweinsburg et al., 2010).

Sources:

• Schweinsburg, A. D., et al. "A preliminary study of functional magnetic resonance imaging response during verbal encoding among adolescent binge drinkers." Alcohol 44.1 (2010): 111-117.
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. "Monitoring the Future Study." (2010).