Alcohol‐Related Olfactory Cues Activate the Nucleus Accumbens and Ventral Tegmental Area in High‐Risk Drinkers: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

Alcoholic olfactory cues may invoke the dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic system to a greater degree than nonalcoholic odors and could be effective tools in exploring the role of the dopamine system in susceptibility to alcoholism.

Exposure to the Taste of Alcohol Elicits Activation of the Mesocorticolimbic Neurocircuitry

“…Interestingly, we did not observe differential activity in the VS corresponding to alcohol vs control cues as previously reported by other groups (eg Kareken et al, 2004); instead, we found increased DS/caudate activity. Increased activation for alcohol compared with the control cue was also found in the thalamus, an area that has also been implicated in cue elicited craving (Modell et al, 1990;George et al, 2001).…”

“…In the present study, a priori ROI analyses indicated that gustatory alcohol cues elicited activation in many of the structures that have been previously implicated in the development and expression of craving for a variety of drugs of abuse including the VTA/SN (Kareken et al, 2004), OFC (Hermann et al, 2006;Myrick et al, 2004), and medial PFC (Kalivas and Volkow, 2005;Myrick et al, 2004;Park et al, in press). Interestingly, we did not observe differential activity in the VS corresponding to alcohol vs control cues as previously reported by other groups (eg Kareken et al, 2004); instead, we found increased DS/caudate activity.…”

“…Consistent with the broader neuroimaging literature on addiction, mesocorticolimbic activation has been found with visual alcohol cues (Braus et al, 2001), olfactory cues (Kareken et al, 2004;Schneider et al, 2001), and an interesting combination of gustatory and visual cues (George et al, 2001;Myrick et al, 2004). In two related studies, a single taste 'cue' was presented before the actual scanning procedure in the form of a priming dose of an alcoholic taste (ie 1 Oz of beer) (Myrick et al, 2004;George et al, 2001).…”

Nucleus accumbens AGS3 expression drives ethanol seeking through Gβγ

“…Moreover, EtOH-associated cues that activate the nucleus accumbens/striatum (1,(24)(25)(26)(27)(28) can significantly facilitate EtOH seeking that accompanies relapse in human alcoholics (1, 24-26, 42, 43). Thus, it is intriguing that AGS3 up-regulation, which may drive EtOH seeking during abstinence, is restricted to the NAcore (Fig.…”

“…The enhanced PR responding during abstinence described above was reinforced by EtOH delivery; thus, acute EtOH effects, rather than the cuing effects of stimuli previously associated with EtOH, may have driven EtOH seeking. Because conditioned cues can increase craving and prime relapse in alcoholics (1,(24)(25)(26)(27)(28), we examined whether EtOH-associated cues could maintain responding under the PR when a clear Plexiglas barrier blocked access to the EtOH-containing dipper cup (''3 wk barrier''). Bedding, treated as above, provided an EtOH odor cue.…”