ERP studies of long term alcoholics as well as on individuals at risk for developing alcoholism, have consistently reported reduced P3 amplitude in various task paradigms (Begleiter et al., 1984; Cohen et al., 2002; Ehlers et al., 2007; Ehlers et al., 2001; Hada et al., 2000; Hill et al., 1999a; Hill and Shen, 2002; Hill et al., 1999b; Porjesz and Begleiter, 1987, 1990, 1991; Prabhu et al., 2001; Rodriguez Holguin et al., 1999; Suresh et al., 2003; for a meta-analysis see Polich et al., 1994; Porjesz et al., 2005). In Go/NoGo tasks, the anteriorly distributed NoGo P3 potentials have markedly reduced amplitudes in alcoholic subjects as well as in high-risk individuals, indicating impaired inhibitory control in these individuals (Cohen et al., 1997a, b; Kamarajan et al., 2005a; Kamarajan et al., 2005b; Saunders et al., 2008).
