In addition to abnormal brain activation, structural compromise has been observed in brain regions important for memory functions. Investigators have reported reduced alcoholism-related volumes in the mesocorticolimbic system, including medial temporal-lobe structures (Sullivan et al., 1995; Harding et al., 1997; Agartz et al., 1999; Gazdzinski et al., 2005a; Cardenas et al., 2007; Chanraud et al., 2007; Cardenas et al., 2011; Sameti et al., 2011). White matter abnormalities in memory-associated regions also have been reported. Pfefferbaum et al. (2009), using quantitative fiber tracking derived from DTI, observed defects in microstructural fiber integrity in frontal forceps, internal and external capsules, fornix, and superior cingulate and longitudinal fasciculi. Chanraud et al. (2009) examined white matter integrity in conjunction with measures of verbal episodic memory derived from the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test. The investigators found that low verbal episodic memory performance in alcoholics was associated with structural compromise of axons in frontal, temporal, hippocampal, and parahippocampal regions.
