These findings are paralleled by intriguing patterns of personality trait expression at baseline and follow-up. There was a stable tendency to challenge social conventions in the initiator group (relative to non-drinkers), which persisted over time, and was accompanied only after the onset of alcohol use by marginally declining levels of self-reported behavioral control. This decline could reflect the observed changes in the middle frontal region. It should be emphasized, though, that our analysis of personality trait dimensions did not correct for multiple comparisons. Thus, these positive findings should be interpreted with caution and may not reflect true group differences.
