EEG phenotype in alcoholism: increased coherence in the depressive subtype.
OBJECTIVE
Electroencephalography (EEG) power and coherence changes may be trait markers for alcoholism providing clues to brain mechanisms of vulnerability. However, it is unclear whether alpha power and coherence differences reflect reversible toxic or withdrawal effects of alcohol.


METHODS
The EEGs of 10 non-abstinent and 16 long-term abstinent alcoholics (7.7 +/- 5.8 years) and 25 controls were analyzed. Levels of anxiety and depression were assessed by questionnaire.


RESULTS
No statistically significant EEG power differences were observed between groups, although the numerical difference between alcoholics and controls was similar to that previously reported. Bilateral, intrahemispheric, posterior coherences were significantly increased in the alpha and beta frequency bands both in long-term abstinent and non-abstinent alcohol-dependent subjects - particularly when depressiveness was included as a covariate.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that increased EEG-coherence (cortical synchronization) may serve as endophenotype for alcoholism in conjunction with increased depressiveness and point to a possible involvement of GABAergic and/or glutamatergic neurotransmission.
Winterer
G
G
Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. wintereg@intra.nimh.nih.gov
Enoch
M-A
MA
White
K V
KV
Saylan
M
M
Coppola
R
R
Goldman
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors