Microstructural alterations in AUD have been associated with functional deficits including memory decline and poor executive functioning (Harris et al., 2008; Konrad et al., 2012; Pfefferbaum, Rosenbloom, Rohlfing, & Sullivan, 2009; Trivedi et al., 2013). For example, alcoholics demonstrate relations between low FA in the splenium and working memory impairment (Pfefferbaum et al., 2000); and low FA in corpus callosum, parietal, occipital, and frontal white matter regions with decision making deficits (Iowa Gambling Test) (Zorlu et al., 2014). Abnormal FA in nine different white matter tracts (i.e. anterior corona radiata, body of corpus callosum, cingulate gyrus, external capsule, fornix, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, posterior corona radiata, retro-lenticular limb of internal capsule, and superior longitudinal fasciculus) was directly related to greater BOLD-reactivity in reward processing brain-regions in response to alcohol-taste cues (Monnig et al., 2014).
