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Auditory Brainstem Potentials in Sons of Alcoholic Fathers
Author(s) -
Begleiter Henri,
Porjesz Bernice,
Bihari Bernard
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1987.tb01927.x
Subject(s) - brainstem , psychology , audiology , risk factor , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine
With the use of event‐related brain potentials we have observed sensory as well as cognitive deficits in abstinent alcoholics. By recording auditory brainstem potentials (BSP) from abstinent alcoholics we demonstrated significant delays in brainstem transmission time. We have also reported that P3 amplitudes are significantly reduced in abstinent alcoholics compared to control subjects. Although the neurophysiological deficits observed in abstinent alcoholics are presumed to be alcohol‐related effects, it is possible that some of these deficits may exist prior to alcohol exposure, and may be present in subjects at high risk for alcoholism. We have recently observed significantly reduced P3 components in young sons of alcoholics similar to those observed in abstinent alcoholics. In the present study, we examined auditory BSPs in young boys at high risk for alcoholism and matched controls. We found no statistically significant difference in brainstem transmission time between high risk individuals and matched control subjects. These findings suggest that while some brain deficits observed in abstinent alcoholics may antecede the development of alcoholism (P3) and may represent a predisposing factor, other deficits (BSP) appear to be the consequence of alcohol and/or nutritional‐related effects.