Acute effects of alcohol in a low (0.7 g/kg) and a high dose (1.5 g/kg
) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were measured with Xe-133 inh
alation technique at resting conditions in 13 normals. Mean hemisphere
CBF increased globally by 12% at the lower dose and 16% at the higher
dose. A normal hyperfrontal flow pattern was seen in both alcohol con
ditions. There were, however, significant regional differences in resp
onse to alcohol. The largest rCBF increase was observed in prefrontal
regions at the lower dose, and in temporal regions at the higher. Expr
essed in relative values (% of the whole brain CBF), the temporal rCBF
increased linearly with increasing alcohol dosage, while the prefront
al rCBF showed an increase at the lower dose followed by a decrease at
the higher dose. It is concluded that alcohol has two types of acute
effects on rCBF, a global vasodilatory effect and some regional effect
s, most clearly seen in prefrontal and temporal regions. The prefronta
l flow augmentation following acute alcohol intake may be related to a
transient arousal reaction. which has been reported by others. The te
mporal flow increase may be related to effects of alcohol on emotions
and mood.