Frontal lobe dysfunction is thought to underlie the risk for alcoholism (Giancola and Tarter, 1999; Justus et al., 2001), with orbital dysfunction particularly suggested insofar as behavioral disinhibition and impulsiveness are risks for alcoholism (Finn et al., 1994, 2002; Finn and Hall, 2004). Dysfunction comprising the orbital system and its reciprocal targets involved in satiety and incentive salience might therefore be implicated, as well. Thus, while decreases in orbital activation as a function of food exposure may signal satiety and govern a balanced diet (Rolls, 1999), dysfunction in this system could be one factor that leads to loss of control in drinking in the early phase of alcohol consumption. Study of social drinkers who do not drink abusively, as well as alcoholic subjects, are required to test this hypothesis.
