Background—
Multimodal imaging combining 2 or more techniques is becoming increasingly
important because no single imaging approach has the capacity to elucidate all clinically relevant
characteristics of a network.
Methods—
This review highlights recent advances in multimodal neuroimaging (i.e., combined
use and interpretation of data collected through magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], functional
MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, positron emission tomography, magnetoencephalography, MR
perfusion, and MR spectroscopy methods) that leads to a more comprehensive understanding of
how acute and chronic alcohol consumption affect neural networks underlying cognition, emotion,
reward processing, and drinking behavior.
Results—
Several innovative investigators have started utilizing multiple imaging approaches
within the same individual to better understand how alcohol influences brain systems, both during
intoxication and after years of chronic heavy use.
Conclusions—
Their findings can help identify mechanism-based therapeutic and
pharmacological treatment options, and they may increase the efficacy and cost effectiveness of
such treatments by predicting those at greatest risk for relapse
