Reduced Amygdala Activation in Young Adults at High Risk of Alcoholism: Studies from the Oklahoma Family Health Patterns Project
Biological Psychiatry
Article in Press, Corrected Proof Available on-line 15 February 2007
David C. Glahna,
William R. Lovalloc E-mail: bill@mindbody1.org and
Peter T. Foxb
aNeuroimaging Core
bDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and Research Imaging Center
cUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas; and Behavioral Sciences Laboratories Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Received 19 May 2006; revised 22 August 2006; accepted 24 September 2006. Available online 15 February 2007.
Background
Risk of alcoholism is higher in those with a positive family history (FH+) and in those showing behavioral disinhibition, possibly reflecting altered limbic system function.
Methods
We performed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 17 nonabusing young adults, 9 with FH+ and high in disinhibition versus 8 with a negative family history (FH−) and low in disinhibition. We probed limbic system reactivity with a recognition task using faces expressing fear versus geometric objects.
Results
Subjects with FH− had robust activation to the faces in the region of the right and left amygdalar complexes (p's < .05), while subjects with FH+ had no such activation (p's > .46). The blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal in the region of the amygdala was correlated with scores on the self-report measure of temperament in the combined groups (r = .51, p < .04).
Conclusions
Behaviorally disinhibited temperament, found in many with FH+, may be associated with amygdalar hyporesponsiveness and a failure to avoid risky decisions, increasing the person's liability for alcohol abuse.
