[Electrophysiologic abnormalities in chronic alcoholism, disclosed by the methods of evoked potentials and Hoffman's...

During a preliminary study comparing 5 normal subjects and 5 alcoholics (25 experiments) changes in evoked potentials were found in these patients. There was mainly a reduction in these potentials during the first 100 milleseconds following stimulation. Such a reduction generally means a disorder of the arrival of the influx at the level of the cortex and may be found mainly in peripheral nerve involvement. A complementary study of the H reflex (34 experiments) showed that this reflex was affected in 60% of chronic alcoholics whether or not they had liver cirrhosis. The theory according to which the EEG abnormalities observed may be linked to a metabolic disorder of the amino-acids was not confirmed. The changes of the first 100 milleseconds of the evoked potential associated with the change in Hoffman's reflex are in favour of early peripheral involvement even in alcoholics who do not appear to have any peripheral neuritis. These signs are different from those which are observed in marijuana or psylocybine poisoning where the EEG signs are due to central involvement.