In sum, our findings provide evidence for hypofrontality and altered frontostriatal connectivity in young adults with alcohol dependence. Low responding in these regions, which have roles in self-regulation and higher cognitive function, likely contributes to the compulsive pursuit of alcohol, the poor behavioral flexibility, and the loss of control that accompany this disorder. In addition, altered functional connectivity between prefrontal regions and the VS indicates that coordination within reward circuitry is disrupted in alcohol dependence. Placed in the context of the literature on risk for alcohol dependence, these findings raise the hypothesis that weakening of frontal modulation of VS occurs early in the development of alcohol dependence.
