| Sumario: | Introduction: Neurofunctional studies have shown that binge drinking (BD) patterns of alcohol consumption during adolescence and youth are associated with anomalies in brain functioning. Recent evidence suggests that event-related oscillations (EROs) may be an appropriate index of neurofunctional damage associated with alcoholism. However, there is no study to date that has evaluated the effects of BD on oscillatory brain responses related to task performance. The purpose of the present study was to examine brain oscillations linked to motor inhibition and execution in young binge drinkers (BDs) compared to age-matched controls. Methods: Electroencephalographic activity was recorded from 64 electrodes while 72 university students (36 controls and 36 BDs) performed a visual Go/NoGo task. EROs along with the Go-P3 and NoGo-P3 event-related potential (ERP) components were analysed. Results: While no significant differences between groups were observed regarding ERPs, ERO analysis showed that BDs displayed a lower oscillatory response than controls in delta and theta frequency ranges during Go and NoGo conditions. Conclusions: Findings are congruent with ERO studies showing reduced delta and/or theta oscillations in alcoholics during Go/NoGo tasks. Thus, BDs appear to show disruptions in neural oscillations linked to motor inhibition and execution similar to those observed in alcohol-dependent subjects. Finally, these results are the first to evidence that oscillatory brain activity may be a sensitive indicator of underlying brain anomalies in young BDs, which could complement standard ERP measures.
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