CORRELATION BETWEEN EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS AND MR MEASUREMENTS IN CHRONIC-ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS

Event-related potentials were recorded in 25 abstinent alcoholics, and 25 gender- and age-matched controls during a two-tone discrimination (odd ball) task. All the subjects were free from medication and dextra l. MR images were examined in the alcoholics. The amplitudes of N100, N200 and P300 in the alcoholics were reduced compared with those of th e controls. In order to identify morphological changes responsible for ERP abnormalities, linear regression analyses were performed between ERP measures and MRI parameters. The amplitude of N100 was inversely c orrelated with ventricular size. The amplitudes of P300 were inversely correlated with both ventricular size and width of cortical sulci. It was suggested that the N100 abnormality was related to subcortical st ructure, and P300 alteration was related to both subcortical and corti cal structures in the alcoholics.