(Nixon and Crews, 2002), possibly contributing to deficits in learning and alterations in mood (Crews et al., 2003; Stevenson et al., 2008). In general the diffuse degeneration and loss of neurogenesis found in the rat binge model mimics the diffuse mild degeneration reported in human alcohol abusers (Crews et al., 2005). In addition to alcohol induced neuronal cell loss and inhibition of neurogenesis, there is likely a cellular shrinkage that contributes to the loss of brain size in alcoholics. Alcohol reduces the size, length and branches of the dendrites in new developing adult neurons (Fig. 4), possibly reflecting broad changes in neuronal size and structure. Thus, the reduced size of alcoholic human brain likely represents alcohol neurotoxicity.
