This study found a novel association between SNPs in a brain-expressed lincRNA (AC107892) on 18q23 and theta EEG coherence in a sample of related individuals of EA and AA. Further, theta EEG coherence genome-wide associated variants were associated with alcohol use behavior both in the discovery sample and an independent replication sample. Converging data provide support for the role of genetic variants within 18q23 in regulating neural connectivity and alcohol use behavior, potentially via dysregulation and/or demyelination. This study also demonstrates the utility of the endophenotype approach; genetic findings of EEG coherence have provided an underlying biological hypothesis (i.e., neural connectivity) that can enhance our understanding of functional cerebral circuits and one potential mechanism underlying a predisposition to AUD and related behaviors. Our findings also indicate important sex and developmental differences, underscoring the need for us to examine these effects throughout the lifespan.
