Subjects were 28 adolescents ages 16 to 19 recruited from a larger study on brain functioning in adolescent substance users (Tapert et al., 2007). Binge drinkers were 14 teens who had consumed at least 5 or 4 alcoholic beverages (for males or females, respectively) in one sitting (NIAAA, 2004; Wechsler et al., 1994) during the 3 months prior to imaging. Controls were 14 teens without a history of a binge drinking episodes matched on age, gender, and level of education, and statistically similar on other demographic measures to the binge drinkers (see Table 1). Exclusionary criteria for this study were: histories of neurological concerns (e.g., learning disorder, head trauma with loss of consciousness >2 minutes, migraine) or psychiatric disorders; history of alcohol or other drug use disorder (abuse or dependence); left-handedness; prenatal exposure to alcohol or drugs; use of psychotropic medication; substance use in the past 72 hours; and MRI contraindications. Written assent and consent were obtained from adolescents and their parent/legal guardians in accordance with the University of California San Diego Human Research Protections Program (18- to 19-year-olds provided their own consent).
