Substantial changes in brain morphology mark the stages of alcoholism, including hazardous drinking, dependence, recovery and relapse (Cardenas et al., 2007; Rohlfing et al., 2006). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been extensively used to study morphological changes in subcortical structures that are associated with alcohol use disorders (AUD) (Cardenas et al., 2011). Animal experiments (Bonthius et al., 2001), human postmortem brain studies (Harding et al., 1997), and human imaging studies (Agartz et al., 1999; Sullivan et al., 1995, 1996) all show that chronic heavy alcohol consumption damages the hippocampus; additionally, changes in hippocampus-related functions such as visuospatial learning and memory (Berthoz, 1997; Ghaem et al., 1997; Hartley et al., 2007; Iaria et al., 2003; Lavenex et al., 2006; O'Keefe, 1990; Santin et al., 2000) are among the most consistently found consequences of chronic alcoholism in humans and in rodents model (Beatty et al., 1996; Bowden, 1988; Corral-Varela and Cadaveira, 2002; De Renzi et al., 1984; Matthews and Morrow, 2000; Nixon et al., 1987; Oscar-Berman and Ellis, 1987; Riege, 1987; Shelton et al., 1984). Damaging effects on the hippocampus are believed
