title: P300 amplitude in adolescent twins discordant and concordant for alcohol use disorders.
abstract: The sons of alcoholics have repeatedly been found to have reduced P300 amplitude. Further, quantitative behavioral genetic and molecular genetic studies indicating a genetic influence on P300 amplitude have fueled speculation that this component may be a biological vulnerability marker for alcoholism. To further explore this possibility, we examined P300 in adolescent twin pairs from an epidemiological sample who were (a) discordant for alcohol abuse/dependence, (b) concordant for alcohol abuse/dependence, or (c) concordant for the absence of alcohol abuse/dependence and other relevant disorders. For discordant pairs, the alcohol abusing/dependent twins' amplitude did not differ from that of non-alcoholic co-twins. Pairs free of psychopathology had greater amplitudes than both alcoholism discordant and concordant pairs. P300 amplitude was more similar in monozygotic than dizygotic discordant pairs, suggesting a genetic influence on P300 amplitude in this group. The findings are consistent with P300 amplitude being a marker of vulnerability to alcohol use disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, N218 Elliot Hall, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGue
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers