Cited by 270Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Exposure to the Taste of Alcohol Elicits Activation of the Mesocorticolimbic Neurocircuitry

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Filbey, Francesca M, Claus, Eric, Audette, Amy R, Niculescu, Michelle, Banich, Marie T, Tanabe, Jody, Du, Yiping P, Hutchison, Kent E·2008·Neuropsychopharmacology

Abstract

A growing number of imaging studies suggest that alcohol cues, mainly visual, elicit activation in mesocorticolimbic structures. Such findings are consistent with the growing recognition that these structures play an important role in the attribution of incentive salience and the pathophysiology of addiction. The present study investigated whether the presentation of alcohol taste cues can activate brain regions putatively involved in the acquisition and expression of incentive salience. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we recorded BOLD activity while delivering alcoholic tastes to 37 heavy drinking but otherwise healthy volunteers. The results yielded a pattern of BOLD activity in mesocorticolimbic structures (ie prefrontal cortex, striatum, ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra) relative to an appetitive control. Further analyses suggested strong connectivity between these structures during cue-elicited urge and demonstrated significant positive correlations with a measure of alcohol use problems (ie the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test). Thus, repeated exposure to the taste alcohol in the scanner elicits activation in mesocorticolimbic structures, and this activation is related to measures of urge and severity of alcohol problems.

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  • Symptom-related, cue-induced hyperactivity in OFC and increased functional connectivity between OFC and striatum have been reported in patients with compulsive disorders.

    “Symptom-related, cue-induced hyperactivity in the OFC and increased functional connectivity between the OFC and striatum have been reported in patients with compulsive disorders69–72.”

    From Dissociable roles of prefrontal plasticity in decision-making strategy and execution of habitual behavior (2026) · cites this paper as [69]

    The A Priori ROI Analyses report greater OFC activity during alcohol-taste cues than control cues, and the Correlation of Areas in the Reward Craving Pathway section reports correlated responses across ROIs, including OFC and striatum (Table 4). But the Participants section describes healthy frequent drinkers, not patients with diagnosed compulsive disorders. The paper reports OFC–striatal correlations, not an increase in functional connectivity relative to a comparator. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  1. Tailarach J, Tournoux P (1988). Coplanar Stereotaxic Atlas of the Human Brain. Thieme Medical: New York.

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Authors
Filbey, F. M., Claus, E., Audette, A. R., Niculescu, M., Banich, M. T., Tanabe, J., Du, Y. P., & Hutchison, K. E.
Affiliations
  • University of Colorado Boulder (US)
  • University of Colorado Denver (US)
Corresponding author
Hutchison, Kent E
Venue
Neuropsychopharmacology
Published
2007-07-25
Volume
33
Issue
6
Pages
1391-1401
ISSN
  • 0893-133X (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-634X
OpenAlex
W2171811782
Cited by
270
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 11
FWCI
3.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA012238)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
mesocorticolimbic circuitry, incentive salience, alcohol craving, alcoholism, ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra, striatum, prefrontal cortex, alcohol cue reactivity, heavy drinkers
MeSH terms
Adult, Alcohols, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Cues, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Limbic System, Male, Nerve Net, Oxygen, Photic Stimulation, Taste

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