The Inferior Colliculus in Alcoholism and Beyond

Abstract

Post-mortem neuropathological and in vivo neuroimaging methods have demonstrated the vulnerability of the inferior colliculus to the sequelae of thiamine deficiency as occurs in Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS). A rich literature in animal models ranging from mice to monkeys—including our neuroimaging studies in rats—has shown involvement of the inferior colliculi in the neural response to thiamine depletion, frequently accomplished with pyrithiamine, an inhibitor of thiamine metabolism. In uncomplicated alcoholism (i.e., absent diagnosable neurological concomitants), the literature citing involvement of the inferior colliculus is scarce, has nearly all been accomplished in preclinical models, and is predominately discussed in the context of ethanol withdrawal. Our recent work using novel, voxel-based analysis of structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has demonstrated significant, persistent shrinkage of the inferior colliculus using acute and chronic ethanol exposure paradigms in two strains of rats. We speculate that these consistent findings should be considered from the perspective of the inferior colliculi having a relatively high CNS metabolic rate. As such, they are especially vulnerable to hypoxic injury and may be provide a common anatomical link among a variety of disparate insults. An argument will be made that the inferior colliculi have functions, possibly related to auditory gating, necessary for awareness of the external environment. Multimodal imaging including diffusion methods to provide more accurate in vivo visualization and quantification of the inferior colliculi may clarify the roles of brain stem nuclei such as the inferior colliculi in alcoholism and other neuropathologies marked by altered metabolism.

Differential Effects of Exercise on fMRI of the Midbrain Ascending Arousal Network Nuclei in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Gulf War Illness (GWI) in a Model of Postexertional Malaise (PEM)

“…These sensations are monitored in the superior and inferior colliculus, respectively. The inferior colliculi are innervated by the ascending hindbrain auditory pathway (the lateral lemniscus), somatosensory pathways from the medulla, pons, and arousal nuclei [ 63 ]. The inferior colliculus participates in multimodal sensory perceptions, vestibulo–ocular reflex, predator aversion and escape, prey localization, social communication, analgesia and fear-related behaviors.…”

“…The inferior colliculus is highly metabolically active and vulnerable to toxic injury [ 63 ]. ME/CFS have reduced cerebral blood flow during heads up tilt [ 69 ] and exercise [ 70 ], which may reduce the oxygen supply to the susceptible inferior colliculus and lead to dorsal midbrain dysfunction.…”

Differential Effects of Exercise on fMRI of the Midbrain Ascending Arousal Network Nuclei in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Gulf War Illness (GWI) in a Model of Postexertional Malaise (PEM)

“…These sensations are monitored in the superior and inferior colliculus, respectively. The inferior colliculi are innervated by the ascending hindbrain auditory pathway (the lateral lemniscus), somatosensory pathways from the medulla, pons, and arousal nuclei [63]. The inferior colliculus participates in multimodal sensory perceptions, vestibulo-ocular reflex, predator aversion and escape, prey localization, social communication, analgesia and fear related behaviours.…”

“…The inferior colliculus is highly metabolically active and vulnerable to toxic injury [63]. ME/CFS have reduced cerebral blood flow during heads up tilt [69] and exercise [70] that may reduce oxygen supply to the susceptible inferior colliculus and lead to dorsal midbrain dysfunction.…”

VISPNN: VGG-Inspired Stochastic Pooling Neural Network

“…Excessive alcohol use will damage all organ systems, but it mainly influences the heart, liver, brain, pancreas, and immune system [3]. Besides, alcoholism may cause schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression [4], irregular heartbeat [5], Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome [6], etc.…”