Alcoholism and the Brain Architecture

The progress and research in alcoholism from a neuroscience perspective over the past few years has revealed the concepts of neuroplasticity in the human brain. The original design of brain structure modification was a unidirectional approach-that is, without the chance of neuronal regeneration, degradation occurred with age or disease exemplified by our understanding of neural degradation with chronic alcoholism and repair with sobriety. Now, there is supporting evidence for the possibility of neurogenesis as part of a repair process [1]. Replacement of white matter constituents, including myelin, has recently emerged. Observable brain pathology is another broad area of alcohol research. Use of various sophisticated imaging technologies-such as computed tomography(CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), pneumoencephalography (PEG), diffusion tensor imaging, and functional MRI-have become assessment tools which have enabled detailed insight into brain structural changes and function during periods of alcohol drinking, abstinence, and relapse.