Event-related oscillations in offspring of alcoholics: neurocognitive disinhibition as a risk for alcoholism.
BACKGROUND
Event-related oscillations (EROs) are increasingly being used to assess neurocognitive functioning in normal and clinical populations. The current study compares different frequency activities in offspring of alcoholics (OA) and in normal control subjects (NC) to examine whether the OA group exhibits any abnormality in oscillatory activity while performing a Go/NoGo task.


METHODS
The S-transform algorithm was employed to decompose the electroencephalographic (EEG) signals into different time-frequency bands, and the oscillatory responses in the P300 time window (300-700 milliseconds) were statistically analyzed in both groups.


RESULTS
The OA group manifested significantly decreased activity in delta (1-3 Hz), theta (4-7 Hz), and alpha1 (8-9 Hz) bands during the NoGo condition, as well as reduced delta and theta activity during the Go condition. This reduction was more prominent in the NoGo than in the Go condition.


CONCLUSIONS
The decreased response in delta, theta, and alpha1 oscillations, especially during the NoGo condition in high-risk individuals, is perhaps suggestive of cognitive and neural disinhibition and may serve as an endophenotypic marker in the development of alcoholism and/or other disinhibitory disorders.
Kamarajan
Chella
C
Neurodynamics Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA.
Porjesz
Bernice
B
Jones
Kevin
K
Chorlian
David
D
Padmanabhapillai
Ajayan
A
Rangaswamy
Madhavi
M
Stimus
Arthur
A
Begleiter
Henri
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D012307:Risk Factors; D013826:Theta Rhythm