Event-related potentials in individuals at risk for alcoholism.

Visual event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded to easy and difficult line orientation discriminations in high risk (HR) and low risk (LR) males between the ages of 19-24. The amplitude of the P3 component was significantly smaller in HR compared to LR males to all target stimuli. This result was more pronounced for the easy target. No differences in the latency of P3 were reported between groups. These results were obtained prior to the administration of alcohol and replicate our own findings and those of other laboratories with a different experimental paradigm.