EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS IN ALCOHOLIC MEN, THEIR HIGH-RISK MALE RELATIVES, AND LOW-RISK MALE CONTROLS

A total of 217 adult male Subjects were evaluated utilizing event-rela ted potentials (ERPs) elicited with two different auditory tasks (Coun ting and Choice Reaction). Ninety-eight alcoholics from high-density, multigenerational families were evaluated along with 39 first-degree n onalcoholic relatives from the same high-density families. Eighty cont rols, selected for low density of alcoholism in their extended familie s, were also studied. Using both conventional and topographic analyses , no significant differences in the amplitude of the P300 component co uld be found with either of the auditory tasks. No significant differe nces in amplitude of N250 were seen. The latency of N250 increased wit h increasing conditional probabilities (0.33, 0.67, and 1.00), a trend that was amplified in the Counting task as compared with the Choice R eaction task. This prolongation in a task not requiring a reaction res ponse (button press) tended to increase the latency more for alcoholic s than controls or high-risk nonalcoholic subjects. Age, lifetime, and recent drinking were treated as covariates in all analyses. The absen ce of P300 amplitude differences between adult high- and low-risk subj ects is discussed in the context of the much more reliable differences seen between high- and low-risk children from the same high- and low- density families, when evaluated with the same auditory tasks.