Chunk #59 — Locomotor Activating, Autonomic and Central Electrophysiological Responses to Alcohol Predictive of Risk — Central electrophysiological effects
There have been a number of studies that have demonstrated that central electrophysiological responses to alcohol differ in human subjects with low LR to alcohol. EEG alpha activity at baseline has been demonstrated to predict low level of response as indexed by the SHAS, with high alpha predicting a low response [see (Ehlers, Schuckit 1991;Ehlers et al. 2004)]. Both electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related potential (ERP) responses to alcohol challenge have also been demonstrated to be attenuated in those high risk individuals who reflect a low level of response to alcohol [see (Ehlers, Schuckit 1991;Ehlers, Schuckit 1990;Ehlers et al. 2004;Ehlers et al. 1999;Ehlers et al. 1998). In one study P300 latencies were found to return to normal more quickly in FHP subjects following an alcohol challenge as compared to FHN (Schuckit et al. 1988). On the other hand, increased beta activity following alcohol challenge has also been reported in FHP subjects (Ehlers, Schuckit 1991).
