Citation: Mattson, S.N., Schoenfeld, A.M., & Riley, E.P. (2001). Teratogenic effects of alcohol on brain and behavior. Alcohol Research & Health, 25(3), 185-191. Retrieved 2/12/06from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-3/185-191.htm.)
Article Type: Review
Conclusion: Both neuropsychological and imaging studies show the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on brain function and structure, respectively. They have confirmed that specific areas of the brain are affected more than others. New medical tools will afford researchers the possibility of investigating the brain in even more detail, and as a result, to develop more effective intervention strategies.
Summary: Neuropsychological studies have demonstrated that children who are prenatally exposed to alcohol demonstrate cognitive and behavioral deficits, including those in learning and memory as well as executive function. Brain imaging studies have confirmed structural changes in different regions of the brain, and these may account for the cognitive and processing deficits being observed. The authors review the results achieved through neurological testing, and describe in detail those achieved using a variety of brain imaging studies, including those that use MRI (measuring tissue type), EEG (electrical activity), PET and SPECT (metabolic activity), and fMRI (activity while performing a given task). The article points to the field of brain mapping as showing promise for further identifying specific areas of deficit.
Implications: As medical diagnostic tools become more sophisticated and able to identify specific areas of deficit in the brain, fetal alcohol research has the opportunity to become more precise and systematic in its efforts. Perhaps over time, direct correlations can be made between neurological testing and imaging methods and serve to address the needs of persons prenatally exposed to alcohol.
Email Address: smattson@sunstroke.sdsu.edu