The prefrontal cortex is instrumental in higher level decision making, mediating emotional control, insight, foresight and appreciation of consequences. Researchers measured and compared volumes of the prefrontal lobe in chronic study participants with normal volunteers using high resolution volumetric MRI. Polysubstance abusers were free from drugs of abuse for at least 15 days prior to MRI scanning. Total volumes of the PREFRONTAL LOBE (left and right hemispheres) were significantly smaller in the SUBSTANCE ABUSE group than in the controls. Also, when the prefrontal lobe was segmented for gray and white matter, the substance abusers had significantly smaller volumes of gray but not white matter (Neuropsychopharmacology 18(4)243-252). The findings suggest those with a long history, even in the past, of heavy substance abuse may reveal deficits in brain structure or function which impact on aspects of criminal responsibility. But how permanent are the changes drugs cause to the brain? Neuropsychopharmacology 19 (1), pp. 1-9 recently published research of chronic COCAINE DEPENDENTS, examining electrical patterns in the brain. The 17 who were studied demonstrated abnormal quantitative EEG FINDINGS, these abnormalities did not change despite months of cocaine abstinence. This again supports previous findings of the Alper group, which authored this study of how cocaine dependence permanently alters the brain. Two cases of SEX ACTIVITY IN THE SLEEPING were added to documented literature. Archives of Sexual behavior 27(3), pp. 269-277 reported on a patient with sleep related eating disorder with active sexual behavior in his sleep. A second involved a sexual groping by a longtime sleepwalker of his daughter's girlfriend as he slept in the living room. The perpetrator expressed great regret and stress even as his attorney was advising him to abandon the notion he was sleepwalking when he committed an alleged sexual assault. The same issue of Archives of Sexual Behavior 27 (3) 241-52 related a study of 20 young heterosexual men with no physical problem that would prevent their erectile potential. The results demonstrated that SEXUAL INTERESTS are conditioned and that the response to sexually stimulating images weakens over time. This understanding has implication for the treatment of sex offenders. The ability to remember from early life was closely examined in Journal of Experimental Psychology: General (127 1 22-33). Researchers found that 75% of subjects recalled some of the events surrounding a younger siblings birth that occurred between 2 years 4 months and 2 years 11 months. But those for whom a sibling was between age 2 and 2 years, 3 months remembered significantly less detail. This data contributes to our understanding of the reliability of EARLY LIFE MEMORIES for significant events. Over 2000 Navy personnel on active duty were enrolled in a study examining numerous variables associated with ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE TREATMENT OUTCOME. The result demonstrated no benefit for 6 week treatment versus a four week plan. Neither was seventy of alcoholism related to outcome. Most correlated with outcome was compliance with aftercare attendance. Aftercare attendance accounted for differences in alcohol use, negative incidents, retention on active duty, reason for discharge job performance and recommendation for career advancement or reenlistment. The results should be considered by courts faced with deciding what length of inpatient treatment is the best alternative to incarceration.