Numerous studies have identified a pattern of cognitive deficits that can occur as a result of chronic alcoholism. The most severe effects are reported to include frontal system functions—problem solving, abstraction, working memory, susceptibility to interference, behavioral inhibition (Fein et al., 1990; Oscar-Berman, 2000; Sullivan et al., 2000), right hemisphere functions—visuospatial abilities, perceptual-motor skills, attention (Parsons et al., 1993), and impaired memory function associated with hippocampal and temporal lobe atrophy (Sullivan et al., 2000). Disruption of fronto-cerebellar circuitry, affecting problem solving, contextual memory, and learning and execution of procedures, has also been documented (Sullivan, 2003; Sullivan et al., 2005). However, most of this research has relied on convenience samples (predominantly men) from inpatient or outpatient treatment settings, and the degree to which conclusions from these studies can be generalized to the population of individuals with chronic alcohol dependence has recently been called into question (Fein et al., 2005; Gazdzinski et al., 2008).
