hypothesis that the neurological effects on non-treatment seeking alcohol dependent individuals are less severe than in those who seek treatment. The age by alcoholism interactions for gray matter volumes were also replicated in both TNAD men and women. Partial correlation analysis showed that the effect was a function of a greater age-related volume reduction in TNAD, and not a function of lifetime alcohol burden. In another line of research, a study of decision-making (Fein et al., 2006a) showed normal performance in TNAD individuals on a simulated gambling task (SGT) that has revealed disadvantageous decision-making in treated alcoholics (Bechara et al., 2002; Fein et al., 2004b; Mazas et al., 2000). A related study (Fein et al., 2008) examined EEG recordings from treatment-naïve alcoholics while performing the Balloon Analogue Risk Task, which measures risk-taking propensity. Reduced feedback error-related negativity (F-ERN) amplitude, suggesting a lower emotional valence attached to feedback regarding the negative consequences of behavior, was associated with a greater family history density of alcohol problems within the TNAD group.
