In conclusion, we identified four clusters of convergent macro- and microstructural WM alterations in patients with AUD through ALE meta-analysis. The resulting clusters have been assigned to key brain structures of the cingulum, corpus callosum, fornix, and internal capsule. Respective reductions in WM volume and axonal integrity may reflect either permanent or partly transient changes in AUD patients that have been associated with several neuropsychological deficits (e.g., decision making and emotion regulation) in functional neuroimaging studies [60, 76]. Future research is needed to provide a more accurate behavioral assessment of the identified WM clusters and to examine the extent of reversibility of alcohol-related WM changes.
