A few glasses of alcohol are enough to begin fragmenting the way the brain communicates, leading to more localized information processing and reduced brain-wide connectivity, a new study reports.
The research, from the University of Minnesota, examined how alcohol impacts the intricate network of the brain. While many studies have focused on heavy drinking, this work explores network-wide effects.
The study involved 107 healthy participants aged 21-45. They received either an alcoholic beverage to reach a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 g/dL or a placebo. Following consumption, participants underwent MRI scans to map brain activity.
Analysis revealed that alcohol significantly increased local efficiency and clustering within brain regions, creating a more grid-like topology. Conversely, global efficiency decreased. These network changes directly correlated with the subjective feeling of intoxication.
Brain areas became more isolated, with effects particularly noted in the occipital lobe, which processes visual data. This disconnection likely contributes to well-known alcohol effects like blurred vision and difficulty with coordination.
Researchers suggest these findings, observed in brains at rest, may also shed light on how individuals with acute or chronic alcohol problems experience different brain network disruptions when intoxicated.
Future studies aim to explore these impacts across broader populations and longer periods, including individuals with heavier drinking patterns and negative affective symptomatology.