Changes in nonhuman primate brain function following chronic alcohol consumption in previously naïve animals

•First application of Magnetoencephalography (MEG) to vervet monkeys.•Utilized a well validated model of chronic heavy alcohol use.•Examined changes in brain activity of naïve subjects to chronic alcohol use.•Localized previously observed changes to specific brain regions.•Increases and decreases in brain activity were observed dependent on the region.

IntroductionChronic alcohol abuse is associated with neurophysiological changes in brain activity; however, these changes are not well localized in humans. Non-human primate models of alcohol abuse enable control over many potential confounding variables associated with human studies. The present study utilized high-resolution magnetoencephalography (MEG) to quantify the effects of chronic EtOH self-administration on resting state (RS) brain function in vervet monkeys.MethodsAdolescent male vervet monkeys were trained to self-administer ethanol (n = 7) or an isocaloric malto-dextrin solution (n = 3). Following training, animals received 12 months of free access to ethanol. Animals then underwent RS magnetoencephalography (MEG) and subsequent power spectral analysis of brain activity at 32 bilateral regions of interest associated with the chronic effects of alcohol use.Resultsdemonstrate localized changes in brain activity in chronic heavy drinkers, including reduced power in the anterior cingulate cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala as well as increased power in the right medial orbital and parietal areas.DiscussionThe current study is the first demonstration of whole-head MEG acquisition in vervet monkeys. Changes in brain activity were consistent with human electroencephalographic studies; however, MEG was able to extend these findings by localizing the observed changes in power to specific brain regions. These regions are consistent with those previously found to exhibit volume loss following chronic heavy alcohol use. The ability to use MEG to evaluate changes in brain activity following chronic ethanol exposure provides a potentially powerful tool to better understand both the acute and chronic effects of alcohol on brain function.