Recent studies found that the energy (power) in both δ and θ oscillations is reduced in alcoholics when compared with normal control subjects during the processing of target stimuli in a visual oddball paradigm1 (figure 2) (Jones et al. 2006b). These oscillations also were significantly lower in energy in adolescent offspring of alcoholics who are at high risk of developing dependence. Indeed, these reductions in brain oscillations were more sensitive than measurements of the P3 amplitude in discriminating between high- and low-risk offspring (Rangaswamy et al. 2007).
