BEHAVIORAL, EEG, AND MRI EVALUATION OF PRENATAL ALCOHOL

胎儿酒精综合征（FAS）包括广泛的残疾 包括结构和功能的变化。的最 破坏性的影响是那些由中央的改变所造成的 神经系统（CNS）。 这些中枢神经系统的变化导致认知和 在大多数FAS研究中报告了行为缺陷。 此外还有 越来越多的文献表明大脑和行为 在缺乏所需的面部特征的情况下， FAS诊断。 在我们的研究中， 酒精（PEA），谁没有明显的身体特征的FAS， 显示大脑和行为的变化与FAS相似。 以前的工作已经记录了广泛的，相当普遍的，赤字一般 智力 最近，人们注意到， 神经心理功能的特定方面，记录缺陷 以及不同认知领域的相对优势。 需要 更深入地了解这些优势的细节， 弱点这种级别的检查，加上脑成像，将 提供干预和补救战略框架， 酗酒的孩子 拟议的项目是多学科性质的，包括 神经心理学评估，磁共振成像（MRI）， 和电生理评估。 该提案代表了 继续我们过去一年来一直在进行的工作， 三年 我们计划继续进行总体评估， 建议扩大我们三项研究的调查范围， 域. 在神经心理学领域，除了我们的 一般测试电池，我们提出的具体措施， 学习记忆和情绪功能 在MRI组件中， 沿着继续评估FAS儿童的大脑结构 和PEA，我们正在提出一项关于大脑发育变化的研究， 功能性MRI的初步研究。最后，在电生理学中， 我们建议继续收集EEG和ERP数据， 儿童PEA以及一个新的组成部分，解决情绪 酒精暴露儿童的反应。 我们认为，我们的做法 到目前为止，这一多学科项目取得了成功， 扩大我们对产前酒精的破坏性影响的理解 暴露，可能导致新的治疗策略。

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) encompasses a broad range of disabilities involving both structural and functional changes. Among the most devastating effects are those caused by alterations in the central nervous system (CNS). These CNS changes result in the cognitive and behavioral deficits reported in most studies of FAS. In addition, there is a growing body of literature that suggests that brain and behavioral changes can occur in the absence of the facial features required for an FAS diagnosis. In our study, children with heavy prenatal exposure to alcohol (PEA), who do not have the obvious physical features of FAS, show changes in both brain and behavior similar to those seen in FAS. Previous work has documented broad, fairly general, deficits in general intellectual ability. More recently, attention has been paid to specific aspects of neuropsychological functioning, documenting deficits as well as relative strengths across various cognitive domains. Needed is greater understanding of the details of these strengths and weaknesses. This level of examination, coupled with brain imaging, will provide the framework for intervention and remediation strategies for alcohol-exposed children. The proposed project is multidisciplinary in nature, including neuropsychological assessment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electrophysiological evaluation. This proposal represents a continuation of work that we have been conducting for the last three years. We plan to continue our general evaluation and are proposing to expand the investigation of our three research domains. In the neuropsychological domain, in addition to our general test battery, we are proposing specific measures of learning, memory, and emotional functioning. In the MRI component, along with continuing to evaluate brain structure in children with FAS and PEA, we are proposing a study of developmental brain changes and a pilot study in functional MRI. Finally, in the electrophysiological component, we are proposing to continue to collect EEG and ERP data on children with PEA as well as a new component addressing emotional responses in alcohol-exposed children. We believe that our approach has been successful thus far, and that this multidisciplinary project will expand our understanding of the devastating effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, perhaps leading to new treatment strategies.