Most studies reporting beta band differences in alcoholics and HR offspring also underscore the issue of gender in electrophysiologic research. In studies evaluating alcoholics and HR offspring of both genders, beta band changes were more robust in males while females showed either no elevation or only a modest increase (Gabrielli et al., 1982; Pollock et al., 1995; Finn and Justus, 1999; Rangaswamy et al., 2002, 2004b). Gender differences were highlighted in the COGA study, where male HR offspring had elevated slow beta (12–16 Hz), while female HR offspring showed significantly increased faster beta power (16–28 Hz), particularly those with two or more alcoholic first-degree relatives. Existing gender differences in the progression and pathology of alcoholism and spectral properties of EEG highlight the importance of studying risk indicators within the context of gender.
