Event-related potential evidence of dysfunction in automatic processing in abstinent alcoholics.
The preattentive automatic processing of 63 alcoholics and 27 controls was evaluated with an auditory inattentive event-related oddball paradigm. We examined the mismatch negativity and the N2-P3 complex. Results showed significantly greater amplitude for N2, P3 and the N2-P3 complex for controls but no individual lead (Fz, Cz, Pz) differences by group. A group-by-lead interaction was found for N2 and for the N2-P3 complex. There were no significant latency differences between groups; however, a significant age-by-group interaction effect on latency was greatest at the Cz electrode. Results reflect a possible aberration of automatic processing in alcoholics because of a defect in the mnemonic template necessary to match with an infrequent deviant stimuli. We also found suggestive evidence of a relative weakness of frontal cortical organization in alcoholics. Future studies are suggested that would help clarify these differences in alcoholics.
Realmuto
G
G
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinic, Minneapolis 55455.
Begleiter
H
H
Odencrantz
J
J
Porjesz
B
B
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology