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Acute Alcohol Effects on Contextual Memory BOLD Response: Differences Based on Fragmentary Blackout History
Author(s) -
Wetherill Reagan R.,
Schnyer David M.,
Fromme Kim
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2011.01702.x
Subject(s) - functional magnetic resonance imaging , psychology , alcohol , recall , prefrontal cortex , working memory , neural correlates of consciousness , episodic memory , context (archaeology) , posterior cingulate , neuroscience , cognition , audiology , medicine , cognitive psychology , biology , paleontology , biochemistry
Background Contextual memory, or memory for source details, is an important aspect of episodic memory and has been implicated in alcohol‐induced fragmentary blackouts ( FBs ). Little is known, however, about how neural functioning during contextual memory processes may differ between individuals with and without a history of FB . This study examined whether neural activation during a contextual memory task differed by history of FB and acute alcohol consumption. Methods Twenty‐four matched individuals with ( FB +; n = 12) and without ( FB −; n = 12) a history of FB s were recruited from a longitudinal study of alcohol use and behavioral risks and completed a laboratory beverage challenge followed by 2 functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI ) sessions under no alcohol and alcohol (breath alcohol concentration = 0.08%) conditions. Task performance and brain hemodynamic activity during a block design contextual memory task were examined across 48 fMRI sessions. Results Groups demonstrated no differences in performance on the contextual memory task, yet exhibited different brain response patterns after alcohol intoxication. A significant FB group by beverage interaction emerged in bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex with FB − individuals showing greater blood oxygenation level‐dependent response after alcohol exposure ( p < 0.05). Conclusions Alcohol had differential effects on neural activity for FB + and FB − individuals during recollection of contextual information, perhaps suggesting a neurobiological mechanism associated with alcohol‐induced FB .