Reduced EEG alpha power in the male and female offspring of alcoholics

Abnormalities in resting EEG may be associated with a predisposition to alc oholism. Research also suggests that high levels of negative affect are imp ortant mediators of the predisposition to alcoholism in the offspring of al coholics. This study tested the hypothesis that the offspring of alcoholics show deficits in EEG alpha and excessive EEG beta activity. which, in turn , would be associated with high levels of negative affect Participants were 37 men and 27 women with a positive family history of alcoholism and 37 me n and 29 women with a negative family history of alcoholism. Personal and f amily history of psychopathology, psychological traits, and resting EEG wer e each assessed in separate testing sessions. Results indicated that subjec ts with a family history of alcoholism had reduced relative and absolute al pha power in occipital (O1, O2) and frontal (F3, F4, Fz) regions, and incre ased relative beta in both regions compared with subjects with a negative f amily history of alcoholism. EEG alpha and beta activity were not significa ntly correlated with trait anxiety, a diagnosis of depression, or antisocia l traits. The results suggest that deficits in resting EEG alpha are associ ated with risk for alcoholism, although their etiological significance is u nclear.