Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
Volume 163, Issue 1 , Pages 52-60, 30 May 2008

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 Tesla in alcohol intoxication

  • Thomas Duning

      Affiliations

    • University Hospital of Münster, Department of Neurology, Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33, 48149 Münster, Germany
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +49 251 83 48196; fax: +49 251 83 48181.
    • ,
  • Harald Kugel

      Affiliations

    • University Hospital of Münster, Department of Clinical Radiology, Germany
    • ,
  • Ricarda Menke

      Affiliations

    • University Hospital of Münster, Department of Neurology, Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33, 48149 Münster, Germany
    • ,
  • Stefan Knecht

      Affiliations

    • University Hospital of Münster, Department of Neurology, Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33, 48149 Münster, Germany
    • IZKF Münster, University of Münster, Germany

Received 11 September 2006; received in revised form 3 September 2007; accepted 5 September 2007.

Abstract 

Acute alcohol intake has pronounced effects on brain function. However, the exact mechanism of action is unclear. Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dwMRI) can detect subtle changes in microstructural neural states. Here we tested if dwMRI can detect such changes during alcohol intoxication. We used high-field dwMRI in four healthy subjects at different blood alcohol concentration (0.0 g/L, 0.3 g/L, 0.6 g/L and 1.0 g/L). Although neuropsychological performances declined markedly, no changes in diffusion parameters emerged. First, this finding argues against alcohol-induced diffuse changes of microstructural state and in favour of more specific, possibly receptor-mediated actions of alcohol on brain function. Second, processes involving neurotransmitters that are primarily linked to cognitive function might not be viewable with high-field diffusion MRI.

Keywords: Acute alcohol intake, Diffusion weighted imaging, Alcohol intoxication, MRI, Neural dysfunction

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PII: S0925-4927(07)00180-1

doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2007.09.003

Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
Volume 163, Issue 1 , Pages 52-60, 30 May 2008

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