EEG signs of brain impairment in alcoholism.

EEGs were recorded for two groups of chronic alcoholics who scored at opposite extremes on the Shipley Institute of Living Scale. The groups were matched in terms of age and drinking history variables and were compared to age-matched control subjects for left and right precentral (F-T) and postcentral (C-O) placements. Significant ANOVA findings were obtained primarily in high-frequency bands in the three group comparison. A significant linear trend was found for power as a function of degree of impairment from controls to moderately impaired alcoholics to severely impaired alcoholics in frequency bands above 14 Hz. The trend was most pronounced in the F-T derivations. Implications of the findings with respect to cortical atrophy in alcoholism are discussed.