The existing neurobiological literature investigating alcohol use and abuse provides interesting, albeit limited, evidence regarding the P300 amplitude as a potentially important factor in understanding gender differences in drinking patterns during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Since the P300 amplitude naturally increases throughout adolescence and into adulthood, the gap between COAs and controls lessens in adulthood (Polich, Pollock, & Bloom, 1994). Further, most research examining electrophysiological responses and risk for alcoholism have looked primarily at boys and men. Research with daughters of alcoholics also shows significantly reduced P300 amplitudes in comparison to daughters of controls. Although the disparity observed between groups is smaller for daughters than for sons of alcoholics (Hill & Steinhauer, 1993; Hill, Muka, Steinhauer, & Locke, 1995), the overall patterns are similar. As in genetic risk, the P300 amplitude as a risk factor changes with age (Polich et al., 1994). Thus, although a potentially important area of study for understanding the emergence of gender differences in alcohol involvement during adolescence, at present this neurobiological risk measure has not consistently demonstrated gender specific or increasing gender differences with age.
