In addition to decrements in spatial working memory and verbal encoding, modestly decreased ability to inhibit behaviors has been found in binge drinking adolescents. A pilot study from our group 56 found greater BOLD response relative to controls in the frontal areas and less activation in the cerebellar areas during a go/no-go task of response inhibition administered during fMRI 57–59, despite similar task performance. On response selection (“go”) trials, drinkers exhibited less BOLD response than controls in the mid-cingulate, subcortical, and temporal areas. Better task accuracy was linked to more frontal response during these trials among controls, but not among drinkers (p<.025). These findings suggest that even infrequent exposure to large doses of alcohol may influence inhibitory processing. As with all cross-sectional studies described, follow-up evaluations will help elucidate the temporal relationship between inhibition and alcohol use.
