A suggestion that neuronal integrity in the thalamus was at least transiently affected derives from two relations: 1) recent drinking was associated with low thalamus NAA levels, and 2) positive stimulant use history was associated with low thalamus Glu levels. Past stimulant abuse or dependence and more recent drinking were both associated with lower levels of frontal and thalamic Cho. By contrast, binge drinking and longer length of dependence were associated with higher thalamic Cho ad tCr levels. The finding that binge drinking is associated with higher thalamic Cho levels is consistent with elevated levels of Cho noted in non-abstinent chronic heavy drinkers (Meyerhoff et al., 2004), social and moderate drinkers (Ende et al., 2006), and rodents exposed to alcohol (e.g., Zahr et al., 2010; Zahr et al., 2009). That the MRS-detectable Cho signal comprises phosphocholine, glycerophosphocholine, and free choline, among other choline derivatives (Boulanger et al., 2000), may explain, in part, the variability in the literature about Cho levels in alcoholics. For example, in severe weight loss, levels of phosphocholine can decrease while levels of glycerophosphocholine can increase (Gopel et al., 2002).
