Event-related brain potentials are different in individuals at high and low risk for developing alcoholism.

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Abstract
Event-related brain potentials (ERP) from normal drinkers with and without a family history of alcoholism were compared. Three groups of 10 subjects each (5 with and 5 without a family history of alcoholism) ingested a placebo or ethanol at 0.56 or 0.94 g/kg. In each comparison, ERP components elicited in conjunction with subjects'' decisions about task-relevant stimuli were of significantly reduced amplitude in individuals with a family history of alcoholism. The latency of the positive component and reaction times to correctly detected targets were significantly later in individuals with a positive history of alcoholism. These group differences were apparent with and without a challenge of alcohol. Brain functions were different in individuals at high and low risk for the development of alcoholism (i.e., those with and without a family history of alcoholism, respectively).