The present study was designed to characterize how binge drinking affects CNS neuroelectric activity in male and female undergraduate participants who were carefully screened for the presence of covariates. EEG recorded in a passive, eyes-open procedure indicated enhanced spectral power in the delta (0–4 Hz) and fast-beta (20–35 Hz) bands for the high-binge drinkers. Although the causal relationship between binge drinking and increased fast-beta power remains unclear, the alteration of fast-beta activity suggests that high-binge drinkers exhibit a similar EEG spectral pattern as alcoholics. Thus, relative increases in fast-beta power may be a biomarker for potential future alcoholism even in the absence of familial alcoholism.
