EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS IN WOMEN AT RISK FOR ALCOHOLISM

Event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited during information processing tasks are useful for assessing brain function. Abstinent male alcohol ics exhibit deficits in ERPs. The present study found that female alco holics with early onset alcoholism (18.3 +/- 1.3 years) showed signifi cant deficits in P300 amplitude relative to both high-risk and low-ris k controls. Two interpretations of these findings are possible. P300 a mplitude reduction among the alcoholic women might be a neuropathologi cal consequence of excessive drinking. Alternatively, lower amplitude of the P300 wave may be a marker for alcoholism risk segregating withi n high-risk families and associated with development of alcoholism. Th e later interpretation is favored based on the unlikely possibility th at the nonalcoholic high-risk women would later convert to alcoholic s tatus due to their age (mean age of 35.6 +/- 1.6 years).