Influence of binge drinking on the resting state functional connectivity of university Students: A follow-up study

Binge Drinking (BD) is characterized by consuming large amounts of alcohol on one occasion, posing risks to brain function. Nonetheless, it remains the most prevalent consumption pattern among students. Cross-sectional studies have explored the relationship between BD and anomalies in resting-state functional connectivity (RS-FC), but the medium/long-term consequences of BD on RS-FC during developmental periods remain relatively unexplored. In this two-year follow-up study, the impact of sustained BD on RS-FC was investigated in 44 college students (16 binge-drinkers) via two fMRI sessions at ages 18–19 and 20–21. Using a seed-to-voxel approach, RS-FC differences were examined in nodes of the main brain functional networks vulnerable to alcohol misuse, according to previous studies. Group differences in RS-FC were observed in four of the explored brain regions. Binge drinkers, compared to the control group, exhibited, at the second assessment, decreased connectivity between the right SFG (executive control network) and right precentral gyrus, the ACC (salience network) and right postcentral gyrus, and the left amygdala (emotional network) and medial frontal gyrus/dorsal ACC. Conversely, binge drinkers showed increased connectivity between the right Nacc (reward network) and four clusters comprising bilateral middle frontal gyrus (MFG), right middle cingulate cortex, and right MFG extending to SFG. Maintaining a BD pattern during critical neurodevelopmental years impacts RS-FC, indicating mid-to-long-term alterations in functional brain organization. This study provides new insights into the neurotoxic effects of adolescent alcohol misuse, emphasizing the need for longitudinal studies addressing the lasting consequences on brain functional connectivity.