The current sample did not have concomitant use of other substances, nor did they report the same degree of binge drinking as participants in the above-mentioned studies. Our findings of relatively decreased development of white matter microstructure in the left dorsal caudate/thalamic region as well as the right hemisphere’s inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus suggest that adolescent alcohol use even in smaller quantities has the potential to impact circuitry that is important for behavioral regulation, attention, and executive function given that these regions are important hubs for various information-processing functions.
