Spatio-temporal EEG waves in first episode schizophrenia

David M. Alexander*, Gary J. Flynn, Wilson Wong, Thomas J. Whitford, Anthony W F Harris, Cherrie A. Galletly, Steven M. Silverstein

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: Schizophrenia is characterized by a deficit in context processing, with physiological correlates of hypofrontality and reduced amplitude P3b event-related potentials. We hypothesized an additional physiological correlate: differences in the spatio-temporal dynamics of cortical activity along the anterior-posterior axis of the scalp. Methods: This study assessed latency topographies of spatio-temporal waves under task conditions that elicit the P3b. EEG was recorded during separate auditory and visual tasks. Event-related spatio-temporal waves were quantified from scalp EEG of subjects with first episode schizophrenia (FES) and matched controls. Results: The P3b-related task conditions elicited a peak in spatio-temporal waves in the delta band at a similar latency to the P3b event-related potential. Subjects with FES had fewer episodes of anterior to posterior waves in the 2-4 Hz band compared to controls. Within the FES group, a tendency for fewer episodes of anterior to posterior waves was associated with high Psychomotor Poverty symptom factor scores. Conclusions: Subjects with FES had altered global EEG dynamics along the anterior-posterior axis during task conditions involving context update. Significance: The directional nature of this finding and its association with Psychomotor Poverty suggest this result is related to findings of hypofrontality in schizophrenia. Crown

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1667-1682
Number of pages16
JournalClinical Neurophysiology
Volume120
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • EEG dynamics
  • Hypofrontality
  • P3b ERP
  • Psychomotor Poverty
  • Schizophrenia

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