Altered neural dynamics in occipital cortices serving visual-spatial processing in heavy alcohol users

Abstract

Background: Visual-spatial processing deficits have been previously linked to heavy alcohol use, but the underlying neurological mechanisms are poorly understood. Neuroimaging studies have shown alcohol-related aberrations in occipital cortices that appear to be associated with these neuropsychological deficits in visual-spatial processing, however the neural dynamics underlying this altered processing remains unknown. Methods: Twenty-three adults with high scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Consumption (male: ⩾5, female: ⩾4) were compared to 30 demographically-matched controls with low Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Consumption scores (⩽2). All participants completed a visual-spatial processing task while undergoing high-density magnetoencephalography. Time-frequency windows of interest were determined using a data-driven method, and spectrally-specific neural activity was imaged using a beamforming approach. Permutation testing of peak voxel time series was then used to statistically compare across groups. Results: Participants with heavy alcohol use responded slower on the task and their performance was more variable. The magnetoencephalography data indicated strong theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (10–16 Hz), and gamma (62–72 Hz) responses in posterior brain regions across both groups. Following voxel time-series extraction, significant group differences were found in the left and right visual association cortices from about 375–550 ms post-stimulus, such that adults with heavy alcohol use had blunted alpha responses compared to controls. Conclusion: Individuals with heavy alcohol use exhibited aberrant occipital alpha activity during visual-spatial processing. These data are the first to show spectrally-specific differences during visual-spatial processing related to heavy alcohol use, and highlight alcohol’s effect on systems-level neural activity.

Occipital neural dynamics in cannabis and alcohol use: independent effects of addiction

“…Importantly, this regression analysis also clarifies our results with respect to our previous study which identified reduced alpha responses in participants with heavy alcohol use compared to a participant group with minimal to no alcohol use 34 . The current study also found a reduction in alpha responses, but in a comparison of participants with AUD against a non-use disorder comparison.…”

“…Participants completed a visual-spatial processing task while undergoing MEG recording. This task has been used to elicit multiple spectrally-specific patterns of neural activity 24 , 34 . While participants were seated in a non-magnetic chair in a magnetically-shielded room, they were instructed to focus on a centrally located fixation crosshair for about 2000 ms (variable inter-stimulus range of 1900–2100 ms).…”

“…Meanwhile, alpha activity has been linked to top down visual processing, including filtering and inhibiting incoming visual input [30][31][32][33] . Alpha activity during visual processing has been specifically implicated in heavy alcohol use 34 , although the role of use disorder was not studied. Given the critical role of oscillations in visual processing and cognition, understanding alterations in these neural population responses will contribute key data on the origin of cognitive and psychological changes in the context of substance use disorders.…”

Development and sex modulate visuospatial oscillatory dynamics in typically-developing children and adolescents

“…Additionally, beta (18–24 Hz) and theta frequency activity have been repeatedly linked to visuospatial processing in MEG studies, with spectrally-specific beta activity in somato-motor areas and theta in both prefrontal and occipital cortices ( Proskovec et al, 2018 ; Wiesman et al, 2017b ; Wiesman and Wilson, 2019 ). Such beta oscillations have been broadly associated with motor function across a large number of MEG studies ( Heinrichs-Graham et al, 2016 , 2017 , 2018 ; Heinrichs-Graham and Wilson, 2016 ), while theta oscillations have been more frequently implicated in early visual recognition within occipital cortices ( Lew et al, 2020 ; McDermott et al, 2017 ; Wiesman et al, 2017b , 2018 ; Wiesman and Wilson, 2019 ). Theta is also known to play a critical role in sustained attention and has been reported in medial prefrontal cortices, an area suggested to support cognitive monitoring and control processes in studies using both MEG and EEG ( Clayton et al, 2015 ), as well as other regions linked to cognitive control ( McDermott et al, 2017 ).…”

Neural correlates of visuoperceptive changes in severe alcohol use disorder: A critical review of neuroimaging and electrophysiological findings

“…According to the authors (Padma Shri & Sriraam, 2017), activity in these regions reflects the specificity of individual with SAUD's sensory control, attentional, and visual processes. Finally, and while not directly applicable to SAUD, a magnetoencephalographic study focusing on the occipital activity of heavy drinkers during a visual‐spatial processing task requiring to detect the location of black and white checkerboards also revealed reduced activity of the alpha band in lateral visual association cortices (Lew et al, 2020). This change was found in the absence of any differences in theta and gamma oscillations in the medial primary visual cortices and was also interpreted as a sign of impaired top‐down visual processing in extra‐striate areas.…”