with previous findings indicating that low P3 amplitudes in high risk offspring of alcoholics have been reported more often in males (Begleiter et al., 1984; O’Connor et al., 1986; Begleiter et al., 1987; O’Connor et al., 1987; Whipple et al., 1991; Berman et al., 1993; Benegal et al., 1995; Ramachandran et al., 1996; Cohen et al., 1997a; Ramsey and Finn, 1997; Rodriguez Holguin et al., 1999b) than in females (Porjesz et al., 1996; Van der Stelt et al., 1998), while there are only a few studies showing P3 differences (between risk groups) in both males and females (e.g., Van der Stelt et al., 1998). Further, lower P3 has been shown to be more robust in high risk male than female offspring (e.g., Polich et al., 1994; Hill et al., 1999). It should also be noted that P3 differences (between HR and LR subjects) in both younger and older males is in line with previous studies which have reported lower P3 amplitude in samples of ‘at risk’ children/adolescents (Begleiter et al., 1984; Begleiter et al., 1987; Berman et al., 1993) as well as in young adults (O’Connor et al., 1986; O’Connor et al., 1987; Ramachandran et al., 1996; Cohen et al.,
