New research in rhesus monkeys has shown that prenatal alcohol exposure alters the brain's dopamine system, which is important for motivation and reward. These changes are related to faster drinking in adulthood. Alcohol easily crosses the placenta and affects fetal brain development. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the study found that subjects exposed to alcohol during pregnancy had a more pronounced brain response to financial rewards in six frontal, one parietal, one temporal and one occipital clusters. This increased activity may signal immature involvement of the prefrontal cortex, which affects reward processing and decision-making. Changes in brain activity were independent of the gender of the participants. Even a relatively small amount of alcohol can have a profound effect on a child's brain development. Prenatal alcohol exposure can affect the dopaminergic system and endocannabinoid receptors, increasing sensitivity to rewards and risk of drug use.