Although our results, as well as previous findings, point to potential differences in functional connectivity in FHP children, linking functional connectivity and other brain measures specifically to AUD risk is challenging, given other differences that may exist between FHP and FHN children. In our sample, parents of FHP children had lower education levels in comparison to parents of FHN chidren. Follow-up analyses indicated that parental education differences did not account for differences in functional connectivity. Nevertheless, there may be other environmental variables not assessed here (eg, family income, housing status) that may account for differences in functional connectivity. In addition, future studies should examine the degree to which connectivity differences in FHPs are specific to having a parent with AUD or generalize to other forms of substance use disorders in the parents.
