Alcohol activates the cerebral reward system in man.

Objective: We investigated the effect of 0.07% alcohol on regional brain activity at rest and during cognitive performance in order to elucidate the anatomical substrate for the effects of alcohol in man as well as to clarify the interaction between changes in cerebral activity induced by cognitive performance and alcohol inebriation.

Method: Regional cerebral blood flow (3D-PET, 15O Butanol) was measured in 13 male, nonalcoholic volunteers.

Brain activation induced by the perceptual maze test: a PET study of cognitive performance.

We investigated with PET the cerebral activation pattern elicited by the perceptual maze test (PMT), a neuropsychological test used to evaluate organic brain injury. The PMT examines visuospatial skill, general intelligence, visually guided motor planning, and the ability to obey rules. Eight right-handed volunteers were examined with PET using the tracer [15O]butanol.