Neurotransmitter and neuromodulatory mechanisms involved in alcohol abuse and alcoholism: Epitome of cerebral complexity

The review article by Nevo and Hamon examines selectively and evaluates many of the recent research findings on the possible role of neurotransmitters in the development of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Intriguing evidence now exists that certain monoaminergic and amino acid neurotransmitters as well as other factors are involved neurochemically in the actions of alcohol. Our critique introduces alternative viewpoints to several of the notions held today about alcohol's effect on neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Caveats are also raised in terms of the interpretation of observations, particularly in relation to procedures used for determining the effects of alcohol on these systems. The reason for the need to consider these alternative views and interpretations centers on the fact that what may appear on the surface to be straightforward may actually represent an oversimplification of the true complexity of the addictive liability to alcohol or those biological components underpinning the disease of alcoholism.