Electrophysiological sexual dimorphism as an early risk marker of alcohol use in adolescence: A longitudinal neuroimaging study

Abstract

Aims: To identify the brain activity profiles associated with alcohol consumption and toaddress its causes. Furthermore, we sought to examine the relationship between theseelectrophysiological markers and the excitation–inhibition balance, as well as to explorethe potential moderating role of sex in these associations. Design: Longitudinal study involving a neuroimaging assessment that included magneto-encephalography (MEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), along with a battery ofself-report questionnaires. A follow-up assessment was conducted two years later usingthe same set of neuroimaging and behavioural measures. Setting and participants: 56 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years recruited from high schoolsin the community of Madrid, Spain, prior to the initiation of alcohol use. Measurements: We extracted measures of power spectral density and excitation–inhibition balance across the brain from MEG recordings and cognitive traits related torisk behaviors from a battery of self-report questionnaires. Alcohol consumption wasevaluated during the follow-up visit through structured individual interviews. Findings: Power-spectra in beta-band showed a positive correlation with alcohol useduring both stages (baseline: rho = 0.33, P < 0.05; follow-up: rho = 0.35; P < 0.05) and anegative correlation with excitation–inhibition ratio (baseline: P < 0.001; rho = −0.56;follow-up: P < 0.01; rho = −0.37). Finally, biological sex showed strong moderationeffect, where females drove the predictive relationship (P < 0.001; rho = 0.64; β =−0,61). Conclusion: Spontaneous electrophysiological brain activity may provide an early bio-marker of future alcohol use in females and appears to be associated with activity pro-files prone to inhibition.