ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE RELATED CENTRAL BRAIN DEPRESSION: AN ELECTRO-ENCEPHALOGRAPHIC STUDY

Introduction: Chronic alcoholism has been associated with significant neurophysiological alterations, particularly affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Electroencephalography (EEG) studies have provided insights into these changes, revealing patterns of brain activity that differ markedly from those of non-alcoholics. Materials and Methods: The study involved EEG power spectral analysis of alcohol-dependent patients compared to healthy controls. The analysis focused on various EEG bands (Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma) across central brain regions (FZ, CZ, PZ, OZ) during eye-open and eye-closed states. Results: The findings indicated increased theta and beta power in alcoholics, particularly at central regions (CZ), suggesting alterations in cognitive processing and attention mechanisms. Alpha power was reduced, indicating impaired resting-state cortical activity. Gamma power showed decreased absolute values but increased relative power in posterior regions, suggesting compensatory mechanisms. Conclusion: EEG power differences in alcoholics provide evidence of significant neurophysiological alterations, particularly in theta, beta, and gamma bands. These findings could serve as potential electrophysiological signatures for alcohol-induced brain dysfunction and aid in monitoring recovery or treatment.