Notably, our results highlight the possible neural consequences of subdiagnostic binge drinking behavior in adolescents, independent of marijuana or other drug use. In support of this hypothesis, animal and human studies have shown that the pathophysiological effects of binge drinking include rate changes in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in many forebrain structures (e.g., hippocampus, nucleus accumbens), neurochemical metabolite changes, and cell death by inflammatory processes [60,69,84,90,97]. Cellular apoptotic death is even suggested to occur with very small doses of alcohol [109]. Recently, Crews and Nixon (2008) found that ethanol intoxication during binge drinking, as opposed to ethanol withdrawal episodes, may lead to proinflammatory cytokines and increases in oxidative stress. Although the mechanism of white matter change in this sample is complex and not entirely understood, we hope that our findings will build on the current literature exploring the neuropathological consequences of binge drinking on adolescent brain tissue.
