Why We Like to Drink: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of the Rewarding and Anxiolytic Effects of Alcohol

Gilman, Jodi M.; Ramchandani, Vijay A.; Davis, Megan B.; Bjork, James M.; Hommer, Daniel W.

doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0086-08.2008

Cited by 229 publications

(210 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Using fMRI, alcohol-induced increased dopamine levels might be reflected by increased activation of the ventral striatum in humans (cf, Gilman et al, 2008). However, the interaction between alcohol intoxication and aggression is complex and likely involves other neurotransmitters than dopamine such as serotonin and gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA) (Miczek et al, 2002;Seo et al, 2008;Heinz et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural and Behavioral Correlates of Alcohol-Induced Aggression Under Provocation

Gan

Sterzer

Marxen

et al. 2015

Neuropsychopharmacol

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Although alcohol consumption is linked to increased aggression, its neural correlates have not directly been studied in humans so far. Based on a comprehensive neurobiological model of alcohol-induced aggression, we hypothesized that alcohol-induced aggression would go along with increased amygdala and ventral striatum reactivity and impaired functioning of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) under alcohol. We measured neural and behavioral correlates of alcohol-induced aggression in a provoking vs non-provoking condition with a variant of the Taylor aggression paradigm (TAP) allowing to differentiate between reactive (provoked) and proactive (unprovoked) aggression. In a placebo-controlled cross-over design with moderate alcohol intoxication (~0.6 g/kg), 35 young healthy adults performed the TAP during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Analyses revealed that provoking vs non-provoking conditions and alcohol vs placebo increased aggression and decreased brain responses in the anterior cingulate cortex/dorso-medial PFC (provokingonon-provoking) and the ventral striatum (alcoholoplacebo) across our healthy sample. Interestingly, alcohol specifically increased proactive (unprovoked) but not reactive (provoked) aggression (alcohol × provocation interaction). However, investigation of inter-individual differences revealed (1) that pronounced alcohol-induced proactive aggression was linked to higher levels of aggression under placebo, and (2) that pronounced alcohol-induced reactive aggression was related to increased amygdala and ventral striatum reactivity under alcohol, providing evidence for their role in human alcohol-induced reactive aggression. Our findings suggest that in healthy young adults a liability for alcohol-induced aggression in a non-provoking context might depend on overall high levels of aggression, but on alcohol-induced increased striatal and amygdala reactivity when triggered by provocation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural and Behavioral Correlates of Alcohol-Induced Aggression Under Provocation

Gan

Sterzer

Marxen

et al. 2015

Neuropsychopharmacol

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“…An Alcotest 7410 handheld breathalyzer (Drager Safety Diagnostics Inc., TX, USA) was administered approximately every 15 minutes during the session. Subjects were asked to fill out a modified version of the Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) (Fraser et al, 1961;Gilman et al, 2008) every 10 min during both the priming phase and every 15 minutes during the self-administration phase in order to evaluate subjective responses to alcohol. Specifically, this modified DEQ consisted of five items scored by the subject using a 100 mm visual analog scale: feel drug, like drug, like more drug, feel high and feel intoxicated.…”

Section: Subjects and Study Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Leu72Met Polymorphism of the Prepro-ghrelin Gene is Associated With Alcohol Consumption and Subjective Responses to Alcohol: Preliminary Findings

Suchankova

Yan

Schwandt

et al. 2017

Alcohol and Alcoholism

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Aims: The orexigenic peptide ghrelin may enhance the incentive value of food-, drug-and alcoholrelated rewards. Consistent with preclinical findings, human studies indicate a role of ghrelin in alcohol use disorders (AUD). In the present study an a priori hypothesis-driven analysis was conducted to investigate whether a Leu72Met missense polymorphism (rs696217) in the prepro-ghrelin gene (GHRL), is associated with AUD, alcohol consumption and subjective responses to alcohol. Method: Association analysis was performed using the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) clinical sample, comprising AUD individuals and controls (N = 1127). Then, a post-hoc analysis using data from a human laboratory study of intravenous alcohol selfadministration (IV-ASA, N = 144) was performed to investigate the association of this SNP with subjective responses following a fixed dose of alcohol (priming phase) and alcohol selfadministration (ad libitum phase). Results: The case-control study revealed a trend association (N = 1127, OR = 0.665, CI = 0.44-1.01, P = 0.056) between AUD diagnosis and Leu72Met. In AUD subjects, the SNP was associated with significantly lower average drinks per day (n = 567, β = −2.49, 95% CI = −4.34 to −0.64, P = 0.008) and significantly fewer heavy drinking days (n = 567, β = −12.00, 95% CI = −19.10 to −4.89, P < 0.001). The IV-ASA study further revealed that 72Met carriers had greater subjective responses to alcohol (P < 0.05) when compared to Leu72Leu both at priming and during ad lib selfadministration.

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“…mainly due to some of its effects on specific emotional states (Gilman, Ramchandani, Davis, Bjork, & Hommer, 2008;Monahan & Lannutti, 2000). One of the most desired effects is related to its anxiolytic action which can facilitate social interactions and reduce fear (Gilman et al, 2008;Herzog, 1999;and Sayette, 1993).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the most desired effects is related to its anxiolytic action which can facilitate social interactions and reduce fear (Gilman et al, 2008;Herzog, 1999;and Sayette, 1993). However, because the findings of alcohol influence on affective processing are inconsistent and even incompatible, it is supposed that alcohol intoxication does not invariably decreases the emotional response but instead, its effects on emotions are possibly mediated through more complex cognitive mechanisms (Herzog, 1999;Steele & Josephs, 1988).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An early theory proposed by Steele and Josephs, the so-called "Alcohol Myopia", has been used by several authors in an attempt to explain the various behavioral effects of the substance Steele & Josephs, 1988. This theory shifts the traditional paradigm by which we understand the role that alcohol plays in emotional and behavioral states (Gilman et al, 2008;Ramchandani, Bosron, & Li, 2001). Instead of emphasising the direct pharmacological action on some specific regions of the central nervous system, the theory supports the idea that alcohol consumption would cause a type of "myopia" by impairing the perceptual mechanisms on a contextual dependent basis .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alcohol, emotion and attention: revisiting the Alcohol Myopia Theory

Mocaiber

David

Oliveira

et al. 2011

Psicol. Reflex. Crit.

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Among the known effects of alcohol on behavior, the modulation of cognitive functions (such as attention and memory), emotion, risk-taking and aggressive behavior are noteworthy. Here, we performed literature review in order to reinterpret alcohol effects on behavior according to the Alcohol Myopia Theory. According to this construct, there is a reduction of attentional resources during alcohol intoxication, which are primarily allocated to the most salient events in a given situation. The consequence is a hyperfocus directed to emotional situations when they are sufficiently relevant to grab attention, or a reduced attentional focus to emotional events in the presence of a relevant demanding task. The understanding of the mechanism mentioned above support the discussion of propositions toward the prevention of problems related to alcohol consumption. Importantly, the attentional allocation model provides inputs for a discussion on the scientifically-supported public health propositions aimed at preventing problems related to acute alcohol intoxication. Keywords: Alcohol; Attention; Emotion; Alcohol Myopia; Context. ResumoDentre os efeitos associados ao consumo alcoólico, destaca-se a modulação sobre funções cognitivas, como atenção e memória, bem como sobre as emoções, comportamento de risco e agressividade. No presente estudo apresentamos uma revisão crítica da literatura propondo uma reinterpretação para os efeitos comportamentais do álcool com base na teoria da Miopia Alcoólica. Durante a intoxicação, existiria uma redução de recursos atencionais, os quais seriam direcionados para eventos mais relevantes. A repercussão, então, seria um aumento do foco atencional para situações emocionais, quando estas fossem suficientemente relevantes ou, em contrapartida, uma diminuição para tais situações na presença de uma tarefa-alvo demandante. A reinterpretação dos efeitos do álcool, com base na teoria da Miopia Alcoólica, fornece subsídios para a mudança de paradigma na intervenção clínica.

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Why We Like to Drink: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of the Rewarding and Anxiolytic Effects of Alcohol

Cited by 229 publications

References 65 publications

Neural and Behavioral Correlates of Alcohol-Induced Aggression Under Provocation

Neural and Behavioral Correlates of Alcohol-Induced Aggression Under Provocation

The Leu72Met Polymorphism of the Prepro-ghrelin Gene is Associated With Alcohol Consumption and Subjective Responses to Alcohol: Preliminary Findings

Alcohol, emotion and attention: revisiting the Alcohol Myopia Theory

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