The current sample was somewhat unusual for a study of alcohol dependence because participants were young and high functioning, had no Axis I disorders, and were not seeking treatment. These characteristics allowed us to focus on the function in frontal regions that are components of dopamine systems with minimal confounding by ageing or long-term alcohol exposure. In addition, these sample characteristics allow us to interpret our findings in light of the literature on frontostriatal function in young people at risk for alcohol dependence. We acknowledge that in many ways, the current study is more an examination of the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence than an examination of its development. Ideally, the field needs prospective studies that include the developmental window allowing assessment of the initiation of alcohol use and development of alcohol dependence. Relevant to this need, findings from the large, multisite IMAGEN consortium have contributed importantly to our understanding of the role of reward circuitry in young people at risk for addiction or early in the process of substance use (e.g., [50], [51], [52]). This study has reported that adolescents
