EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS IN COAS

Evidence suggests that people at risk for developing alcoholism can be distinguished from those not at risk by measuring the electrical acti vity of the brain. Event-related potentials (ERP's) are brain electric al signals produced in response to specific sensory stimuli. Reduced v oltage of an ERP called P300, or P3, appears to characterize offspring of alcoholic families, regardless of whether the offspring are themse lves alcoholic. Reduced P3 may indicate susceptibility to alcoholism a nd may elucidate mechanisms of alcohol's effects on the nervous system .