Over the last decade, various hypotheses have been advanced concerning the cognitive functions affected by chronic alcoholism. This study attempts to further identify the pattern of executive function impairment in chronic alcoholism, shedding light on possible differences between specific functions related to the frontal lobe, with a focus on the source localization of the current density of ERP in the time-range of N2 component in three-dimensional space within the brain. By comparing the magnitude, spatial and temporal characteristics of the N2 component in alcoholic and control subjects in a Go/NoGo task, this study attempts to elucidate the specific neurocognitive abnormalities in alcoholics. A better understanding of underlying neurocogntive abnormalities and its possible causes/precursors would lead to better intervention strategies in dealing with a complex disorder such as alcoholism.
