Mesocorticolimbic system reactivity to alcohol use-related visual cues as a function of alcohol sensitivity phenotype: A pilot fMRI study

Roberto U. Cofresí; Spencer Upton; Alexander A. Brown; Thomas M. Piasecki; Bruce D. Bartholow; Brett Froeliger

doi:10.1016/j.addicn.2024.100156

Back

Mesocorticolimbic system reactivity to alcohol use-related visual cues as a function of alcohol sensitivity phenotype: A pilot fMRI study

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Mesocorticolimbic system reactivity to alcohol use-related visual cues as a function of alcohol sensitivity phenotype: A pilot fMRI study

Roberto U. Cofresí, Spencer Upton, Alexander A. Brown, Thomas M. Piasecki, Bruce D. Bartholow and Brett Froeliger

Addiction neuroscience, Vol.11, 100156

06/01/2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2024.100156

PMCID: PMC11209874

PMID: 38938269

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addicn.2024.100156View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Low sensitivity (LS) to alcohol is a risk factor for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Compared to peers with high sensitivity (HS), LS individuals drink more, report more problems, and exhibit potentiated alcohol cue reactivity (ACR). Heightened ACR suggests LS confers AUD risk via incentive sensitization, which is thought to take place in the mesocorticolimbic system. This study examined neural ACR in LS and HS individuals. Young adults (N = 32, Mage=20.3) were recruited based on the Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire (HS: n = 16; LS: n = 16; 9 females/group). Participants completed an event-related fMRI ACR task. Group LS had higher ACR in left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex than group HS. In group LS, ACR in left caudomedial orbitofrontal cortex or left putamen was low at low alcohol use levels and high at heavier or more problematic alcohol use levels, whereas the opposite was true in group HS. Alcohol use level also was associated with the level of ACR in left substantia nigra among males in group LS. Taken together, results suggest elevated mesocorticolimbic ACR among LS individuals, especially those using alcohol at hazardous levels. Future studies with larger samples are warranted to determine the neurobiological loci underlying LS-based amplified ACR and AUD risk.

Alcohol

Fronto-striatal

Incentive

Level of response

Sensitization

Details

Title: Subtitle: Mesocorticolimbic system reactivity to alcohol use-related visual cues as a function of alcohol sensitivity phenotype: A pilot fMRI study
Creators: Roberto U. Cofresí
Spencer Upton - University of Missouri
Alexander A. Brown - University of Missouri
Thomas M. Piasecki - University of Wisconsin–Madison
Bruce D. Bartholow - University of Iowa
Brett Froeliger
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Addiction neuroscience, Vol.11, 100156
DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2024.100156
PMID: 38938269
PMCID: PMC11209874
NLM abbreviation: Addict Neurosci
eISSN: 2772-3925
Publisher: Elsevier
Grant note: University of Missouri Cognitive Neuroscience Systems Core Facility Board of DirectorsNIH: AA013526, AA025451, AA029169 NIH Diversity Supplement: AA025451-[04/05]S1
Funding for the project was provided by an internal seed grant from the University of Missouri Cognitive Neuroscience Systems Core Facility Board of Directors. BDB and TMP's contributions were supported by NIH AA025451. RUC's contributions were supported by: NIH T32 (AA013526) , NIH Diversity Supplement (AA025451-[04/05]S1) , and NIH K99 (AA029169) . Funding sources had no role in the research other than financial support.
Language: English
Date published: 06/01/2024
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984626030602771

Metrics

9 Record Views

5 Times Cited - Web of Science