Alcohol dependence and related disorders result from a complex interaction of genetic and environmental liabilities that change across development, with a greater impact of genetic factors in early-onset disorders. The use of quantitative brain oscillations provides a means to better understand the network dynamics of brain functions, and, by using these oscillations as endophenotypes, researchers can localize and characterize disease susceptibility genes more easily than if they have to rely on diagnostic categories (Begleiter and Porjesz 2006). The utility of electrophysiological measures as endophenotypes for studying the genetic risk of disinhibitory disorders, including alcoholism, is very promising.
