Electrophysiological sex-dimorphism as early risk markers of alcohol use in adolescence

Heavy drinking during adolescence is associated to alterations in the electrophysiology of the brain. However, some of these alterations are observable at pre-consumption stages. To identify the brain activity profiles associated with alcohol consumption and to address its causes, we examined the power spectra and functional excitation-inhibition ratio in a cohort of 55 adolescents within a two-stage study separated by a two-year follow-up. Our results indicate that power-spectra in beta-band showed a positive correlation with alcohol use during both phases of the study (1st: rho = 0.34, p = 0.042; 2nd: rho = 0.37; p = 0.02) and a negative correlation with excitation-inhibition ratio (1st: p < 0.05; rho=-0.30; 2nd: p < 0.01; rho = -0.43). Finally, biological sex showed strong moderation effect, were females drive the predictive relationship (p < 0.001; rho = 0.66; β=-0,61). Taken together, these results indicate that electrophysiological differences prior to consumption are predictive of future alcohol use in females and associated with activity profiles prone to inhibition.