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Becske M, Marosi C, Molnár H, Fodor Z, Tombor L, Csukly G. Distractor filtering and its electrophysiological correlates in schizophrenia. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 133:71-82. [PMID: 34814018 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patients with schizophrenia are characterized by compromised working memory (WM) performance and increased distractibility. Theta synchronization (especially over the frontal midline areas) is related to cognitive control and executive processes during WM encoding and retention. Alpha event-related desynchronization (ERD) is associated with information processing and attention. METHODS Participants (35 patients and 39 matched controls) performed a modified Sternberg WM task, containing salient and non-salient distractor items in the retention period. A high-density 128 channel EEG was recorded during the task. Theta (4-7 Hz) and fast alpha (10-13 Hz) event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) were analyzed during the retention and encoding period. RESULTS Patients with schizophrenia showed worse WM performance and increased attentional distractibility in terms of lower hit rates and increased distractor-related commission errors compared to healthy controls. Theta synchronization was modulated by condition (learning vs. distractor) in both groups but it was modulated by salience only in controls. Furthermore, salience of distractors modulated less the fast alpha ERD in patients. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that patients with schizophrenia process salient and non-salient distracting information less efficiently and show weaker cognitive control compared to controls. SIGNIFICANCE These differences may partly account for diminished WM performance and increased distractibility in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Becske
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csilla Marosi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hajnalka Molnár
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Fodor
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Tombor
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Csukly
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
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Jang KI, Oh J, Jung W, Lee S, Kim S, Huh S, Lee SH, Chae JH. Unsuccessful reduction of high-frequency alpha activity during cognitive activation in schizophrenia. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 73:132-139. [PMID: 30628145 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha activity during resting state reflects the 'readiness' of an individual to respond to the environment; this includes the performance of cognitive processes. Alpha activity is reported to be attenuated in schizophrenia (SCZ). Understanding the interaction between alpha activity during rest and when cognitively engaged may provide insights into the neural circuitry, which is dysfunctional in SCZ. This study investigated the changes of alpha activity between resting state and cognitive engagement in SCZ patients. METHODS Thirty-four SCZ patients and 29 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. EEG was performed in the resting state and during an auditory P300 task. All experimental procedures followed the relevant institutional guidelines and regulations. RESULTS In SCZ, high-frequency alpha activity was reduced in the resting state. High-frequency alpha source density was decreased in both the resting-state and a P300 task condition in patients, compared to HC. HC, but not SCZ patients, showed a reduction in high-frequency alpha source density during the P300 task compared to the resting state. The negative correlation between high-frequency alpha source density in the resting state and positive symptoms was significant. CONCLUSIONS High-frequency alpha activity in SCZ patients and its unsuccessful reduction during cognitive processing may be biological markers of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuk-In Jang
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.,Institute of Biomedical Industry, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Emotion Research Laboratory, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Inje University, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Jihoon Oh
- Department of Psychiatry, Emotion Research Laboratory, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Wookyoung Jung
- Department of Psychology, Keimyung University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Sangmin Lee
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.,Institute of Biomedical Industry, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Inje University, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Sungkean Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Inje University, Goyang, South Korea.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung Huh
- Department of Psychiatry, Emotion Research Laboratory, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung-Hwan Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Inje University, Goyang, South Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Jeong-Ho Chae
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.,Institute of Biomedical Industry, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Emotion Research Laboratory, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
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Goldstein MR, Peterson MJ, Sanguinetti JL, Tononi G, Ferrarelli F. Topographic deficits in alpha-range resting EEG activity and steady state visual evoked responses in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2015; 168:145-52. [PMID: 26159669 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Deficits in both resting alpha-range (8-12Hz) electroencephalogram (EEG) activity and steady state evoked potential (SSVEP) responses have been reported in schizophrenia. However, the topographic specificity of these effects, the relationship between resting EEG and SSVEP, as well as the impact of antipsychotic medication on these effects, have not been clearly delineated. The present study sought to address these questions with 256 channel high-density EEG recordings in a group of 13 schizophrenia patients, 13 healthy controls, and 10 non-schizophrenia patients with psychiatric diagnoses currently taking antipsychotic medication. At rest, the schizophrenia group demonstrated decreased alpha EEG power in frontal and occipital areas relative to healthy controls. With SSVEP stimulation centered in the alpha band (10Hz), but not with stimulation above (15Hz) or below (7Hz) this range, the occipital deficit in alpha power was partially reverted. However, the frontal deficit persisted and contributed to a significantly reduced topographic relationship between occipital and frontal alpha activity for resting EEG and 10Hz SSVEP alpha power in schizophrenia patients. No significant differences were observed between healthy and medicated controls or between medicated controls and schizophrenia. These findings suggest a potential intrinsic deficit in frontal eyes-closed EEG alpha oscillations in schizophrenia, whereby potent visual stimulation centered in that frequency range results in an increase in the occipital alpha power of these patients, which however does not extend to frontal regions. Future research to evaluate the cortical and subcortical mechanisms of these effects is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Goldstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Michael J Peterson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | | | - Giulio Tononi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Fabio Ferrarelli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States.
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Abeles IY, Gomez-Ramirez M. Impairments in background and event-related alpha-band oscillatory activity in patients with schizophrenia. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91720. [PMID: 24646909 PMCID: PMC3960158 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Accepted: 02/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies show that patients with schizophrenia exhibit impaired responses to sensory stimuli, especially at the early stages of neural processing. In particular, patients' alpha-band (8-14 Hz) event-related desynchronization (ERD) and visual P1 event-related potential (ERP) component tend to be significantly reduced, with P1 ERP deficits greater for visual stimuli biased towards the magnocellular system. In healthy controls, studies show that pre-stimulus alpha (background alpha) plays a pivotal role in sensory processing and behavior, largely by shaping the neural responses to incoming stimuli. Here, we address whether patients' ERD and P1 deficits stem from impairments in pre-stimulus alpha mechanisms. To address this question we recorded electrophysiological activity in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls while they engaged in a visual discrimination task with low, medium, and high contrast stimuli. The results revealed a significant decrease in patients' ERDs, which was largely driven by reductions in pre-stimulus alpha. These reductions were most prominent in right-hemispheric areas. We also observed a systematic relationship between pre-stimulus alpha and the P1 component across different contrast levels. However, this relationship was only observed in healthy controls. Taken together, these findings highlight a substantial anomaly in patients' amplitude-based alpha background activity over visual areas. The results provide further support that pre-stimulus alpha activity plays an active role in perception by modulating the neural responses to incoming sensory inputs, a mechanism that seems to be compromised in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Y. Abeles
- Program in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, The City College of the City University of New York, New York, New York, United States of America
- Program in Cognitive Neuroscience and Schizophrenia, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York, United States of America
| | - Manuel Gomez-Ramirez
- Program in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, The City College of the City University of New York, New York, New York, United States of America
- The Zanvyl Krieger Mind Brain Institute, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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