Alcoholics may misread emotions

A neuroimaging study conducted by Boston University asked abstinent alcoholics and non-alcoholics to view pictures of faces with positive, negative, or neutral facial expressions. They found that the limbic systems of alcoholics were less active than those of nonalcoholics when viewing emotionally charged faces. The limbic system is an important part of the brain involved in emotion.

This raised the question: “Did alcoholism blunt emotional sensitivity, or did emotional insensitivity come before the alcoholism?” What do you think? Read the entire write up in the LA Times by clicking here.