by Elofson J, Gongvatana W, Carey KB.
This review article analyzed several studies used diffusion tensor imaging to quantify white matter integrity. Positive correlations were observed between white matter integrity and neurocognitive performance in alcohol users.
This review article analyzed several different experimental studies, such as McQueeny et al.'s Altered white matter integrity in adolescent binge drinkers, Bava et al.'s Neurocognitive correlates of white matter quality in adolescent substance users, and Jacobus et al.'s White matter integrity in adolescents with histories of marijuana use and binge drinking, among others. All of the studies reviewed confirm that not only does white matter continue to mature through adolescence and into adulthood, but that there is a link between heavy alcohol use and white matter damage.
This review article analyzed several studies used diffusion tensor imaging to quantify white matter integrity. Positive correlations were observed between white matter integrity and neurocognitive performance in alcohol users.
This review article analyzed several different experimental studies, such as McQueeny et al.'s Altered white matter integrity in adolescent binge drinkers, Bava et al.'s Neurocognitive correlates of white matter quality in adolescent substance users, and Jacobus et al.'s White matter integrity in adolescents with histories of marijuana use and binge drinking, among others. All of the studies reviewed confirm that not only does white matter continue to mature through adolescence and into adulthood, but that there is a link between heavy alcohol use and white matter damage.
by Bava, S., Jacobus, J., Thayer, R., & Tapert, S.
This study found that alcohol use during adolescence might be linked to reduction in white matter quality in fiber tracts with frontal connections. In addition, teens who used both alcohol and other drugs had unique neurodevelopmental trajectories that caused a delay in development of fronto-thalamic tracts. This, in turn, could have clinical consequences in young adulthood.
This study found that alcohol use during adolescence might be linked to reduction in white matter quality in fiber tracts with frontal connections. In addition, teens who used both alcohol and other drugs had unique neurodevelopmental trajectories that caused a delay in development of fronto-thalamic tracts. This, in turn, could have clinical consequences in young adulthood.
by Brown, T., Kuperman, J., Chung, Y., Erhart, M., McCabe, C., Hagler, D., Venkatraman, V., Akshoomoff, N., Amaral, D., Bloss, C., et al.
This report shows different stages of brain development and maturity. It is extremely interesting to see that it is possible to identify someone's age based on how far the brain has been able to develop. Results were based on MRI scans collected from a large sample of 885 subjects between 3 and 20 years of age. In these scans, 231 structural brain features were measured and assessed based on “cortical thickness and area, volumes of segmented subcortical structures, normalized signal intensities, and measures of diffusion magnitude and directionality within cerebral, cerebellar, and white matter fiber tract regions.”
This report shows different stages of brain development and maturity. It is extremely interesting to see that it is possible to identify someone's age based on how far the brain has been able to develop. Results were based on MRI scans collected from a large sample of 885 subjects between 3 and 20 years of age. In these scans, 231 structural brain features were measured and assessed based on “cortical thickness and area, volumes of segmented subcortical structures, normalized signal intensities, and measures of diffusion magnitude and directionality within cerebral, cerebellar, and white matter fiber tract regions.”
- White matter characterization of adolescent binge drinking with and without co-occurring marijuana use: A 3-year investigation, by Jacobus J, Squeglia LM, Bava S, Tapert SF.
This study followed teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 for three years, by which time they would be between 19 and 22. They were grouped into three groups – a control group, who did not report any substance use, a group who reported binge drinking, and a group who reported both binge drinking and marijuana use. This study identified fifteen clusters in which fiber tracts between the brain hemispheres differed. The control group showed no change over the three year period, and both the binge drinking and the binge drinking & marijuana group showed decreases in fiber tracts. Interestingly, in some of the areas, the group who reported binge drinking only showed more damage than the group who reported both binge drinking and marijuana use.
by Jacobus J, Tapert SF.
This review article summarizes findings on alcohol-related brain damage and delays caused to adolescents. Teenagers who engage in heavy drinking show "poorer neurocognitive performance, alterations in gray and white matter brain structure, and discrepant functional brain activation patterns when compared to nonusing and demographically matched controls." It is also observed that these are more likely to occur in adolescents who have a family history of alcoholism, which increases one's risk for an alcohol use disorder.
This review article summarizes findings on alcohol-related brain damage and delays caused to adolescents. Teenagers who engage in heavy drinking show "poorer neurocognitive performance, alterations in gray and white matter brain structure, and discrepant functional brain activation patterns when compared to nonusing and demographically matched controls." It is also observed that these are more likely to occur in adolescents who have a family history of alcoholism, which increases one's risk for an alcohol use disorder.
by McQueeny, T., Schweinsburg, B., Schweinsburg, A.,, Jacobus, J., Bava, S., Frank, L., et al.
This study used diffusion tensor imaging to examine the directional coherence of white matter tracts, known as fractional anisotropy. Adolescents who engaged in binge drinking had extensive reductions of fractional anisotropy in 18 white matter clusters when compared to the non-drinking control. In addition, this study brings up the possibility that exposure to large amounts of alcohol, even when can compromise white matter
This study used diffusion tensor imaging to examine the directional coherence of white matter tracts, known as fractional anisotropy. Adolescents who engaged in binge drinking had extensive reductions of fractional anisotropy in 18 white matter clusters when compared to the non-drinking control. In addition, this study brings up the possibility that exposure to large amounts of alcohol, even when can compromise white matter
by Tapert SF, Pulido C, Paulus MP, Schuckit MA, Burke C.
This study shows that adolescents who have developed a tolerance to alcohol show elevated brain response levels, "suggesting less capacity to adjust cognitive processing to contextual demands". Participants were assessed using a standard questionnaire, and based on the BOLD fMRI activation during working memory, researchers were able to predict the level of response to alcohol.
This study shows that adolescents who have developed a tolerance to alcohol show elevated brain response levels, "suggesting less capacity to adjust cognitive processing to contextual demands". Participants were assessed using a standard questionnaire, and based on the BOLD fMRI activation during working memory, researchers were able to predict the level of response to alcohol.