In addition to behavioral and emotional difficulties, offspring of alcoholics have been reported to have poor linguistic ability, deficits in problem solving and abstract reasoning, poor visuospatial and perceptual-motor ability, and decreased attention span (Drejer et al. 1985; Ozkaragoz et al. 1997; reviewed by Pihl et al. 1990). Background factors such as socioeconomic status may influence the extent to which these deficits are observed, so that extensive neuropsychological deficits are not seen in offspring of alcoholic parents with higher socioeconomic status (Hill et al. 1999a). High risk offspring tend to display impulsivity and disinhibition during cognitive paradigms designed to require thoughtful planning and inhibitory control. Also, reduced amplitude of the visual P300 component of the event-related potential appears to be commonly observed. Heightened neuroendocrine responses to threatening stimuli also appear to characterize those with familial loading for alcohol dependence. Finally, differential reactions to alcohol administration in the form of a low level response to the effects of alcohol are prominent among the offspring of alcoholics (Schuckit 1994; Schuckit et al. 1996).
