Post-withdrawal changes in middle-latency auditory evoked potentials in abstinent human alcoholics

Citation
J. Ahveninen et al., Post-withdrawal changes in middle-latency auditory evoked potentials in abstinent human alcoholics, NEUROSCI L, 268(2), 1999, pp. 57-60
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
ISSN journal
03043940 → ACNP
Volume
268
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
57 - 60
Database
ISI
SICI code
0304-3940(19990618)268:2<57:PCIMAE>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
We investigated the effects of chronic alcoholism on middle-latency auditor y evoked potentials (MAEP) in 14 male alcoholics with 1-6 weeks of abstinen ce (without other severe disorders) and 13 age-matched male social-drinker controls. The peak amplitude of a positive deflection (Pa) of the MAEP, pea king at about 30 ms post-stimulus, was significantly larger in the alcoholi cs than in the controls (P < 0.01), and notably, a significant negative cor relation (r = -0.65) was observed between the Pa amplitude and duration of abstinence in the alcoholics. The present results suggest that the post-wit hdrawal brain hyperexcitability in the alcoholic brain, gradually recoverin g with abstinence, could be objectively and non-invasively studied with the MAEP. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. Ail rights reserved.