Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the diversity of neuropsychological abnormalities shown by chronic alcoholics: (1) In patients with KS, alcoholism can selectively interfere with short-term memory, emotion, and other functions associated with damage to limbic system and diencephalic structures; and (2) alcoholics can also suffer diffuse cortical damage that affects the functioning of both brain hemispheres (e.g., abstracting and problem-solving abilities, poor attention, disinhibition, and perseverative responding). No definite relationships have been established, however, between damage to specific cortical regions and concurrent cognitive impairments, although findings from neuroimaging and neuropathology studies point to increased susceptibility of frontal brain systems.
