Frontal EEG response to threat, aggressive traits and a family history of alcoholism: A preliminary study

Objective: This study investigated the association between frontal EEG resp onse to threat, a family history of alcoholism (positive history = FHP, neg ative = FHN), aggressive - antisocial traits and negative affect. Method: E EG in 17 FHP men and 17 FHN men was recorded while resting and while awaiti ng an electric shock. Results: Compared with FHNs, FHPs showed significantl y greater threat-induced decreases in frontal alpha, but no change in front al beta power. FHNs had significant threat-induced increases in frontal bet a power. A measure of aggressive traits, the Buss-Durkee Hostility Assault scale, was also significantly associated with greater threat-induced decrea ses in frontal alpha power and low reactivity to threat on frontal beta pow er. Conclusions: The data suggest that familial risk for alcoholism and agg ressive traits may be associated with a paradoxical pattern of both increas ed reactivity (more alpha suppression) and decreased reactivity (no increas e in beta power) to threat in frontal cortical regions. However, these resu lts are preliminary and tentative due to limitations arising from the small sample size and the exploratory nature of this study.