Mismatch Negativity and Cortical Thickness in Patients With Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Identify Potential Causal Relationships Between Cortical Thickness, Mismatch Negativity, Neurocognition, and Psychosocial Functioning in Drug-Naïve First-Episode Psychosis Patients

BACKGROUND

Cortical thickness (CT) alterations, mismatch negativity (MMN) reductions, and cognitive deficits are robust findings in first-episode psychosis (FEP). However, most studies focused on medicated patients, leaving gaps in our understanding of the interrelationships between CT, MMN, neurocognition, and psychosocial functioning in unmedicated FEP. This study aimed to employ multiple mediation analysis to investigate potential pathways among these variables in unmedicated drug-naïve FEP.

METHODS

We enrolled 28 drug-naïve FEP and 34 age and sex-matched healthy controls. Clinical symptoms, neurocognition, psychosocial functioning, auditory duration MMN, and T1 structural magnetic resonance imaging data were collected. We measured CT in the superior temporal gyrus (STG), a primary MMN-generating region.

RESULTS

We found a significant negative correlation between MMN amplitude and bilateral CT of STG (CT_STG) in FEP (left: r = -.709, P < .001; right: r = -.612, P = .008). Multiple mediation models revealed that a thinner left STG cortex affected functioning through both direct (24.66%) and indirect effects (75.34%). In contrast, the effects of the right CT_STG on functioning were mainly mediated through MMN and neurocognitive pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Bilateral CT_STG showed significant association with MMN, and MMN plays a mediating role between CT and cognition. Both MMN alone and its interaction with cognition mediated the effects of structural alterations on psychosocial function. The decline in overall function in FEP may stem from decreased CT_STG, leading to subsequent MMN deficits and neurocognitive dysfunction. These findings underline the crucial role of MMN in elucidating how subtle structural alterations can impact neurocognition and psychosocial function in FEP.

Study Protocol: Global Research Initiative on the Neurophysiology of Schizophrenia (GRINS) project

BACKGROUND

Objective and quantifiable markers are crucial for developing novel therapeutics for mental disorders by 1) stratifying clinically similar patients with different underlying neurobiological deficits and 2) objectively tracking disease trajectory and treatment response. Schizophrenia is often confounded with other psychiatric disorders, especially bipolar disorder, if based on cross-sectional symptoms. Awake and sleep EEG have shown promise in identifying neurophysiological differences as biomarkers for schizophrenia. However, most previous studies, while useful, were conducted in European and American populations, had small sample sizes, and utilized varying analytic methods, limiting comprehensive analyses or generalizability to diverse human populations. Furthermore, the extent to which wake and sleep neurophysiology metrics correlate with each other and with symptom severity or cognitive impairment remains unresolved. Moreover, how these neurophysiological markers compare across psychiatric conditions is not well characterized. The utility of biomarkers in clinical trials and practice would be significantly advanced by well-powered transdiagnostic studies. The Global Research Initiative on the Neurophysiology of Schizophrenia (GRINS) project aims to address these questions through a large, multi-center cohort study involving East Asian populations. To promote transparency and reproducibility, we describe the protocol for the GRINS project.

METHODS

The research procedure consists of an initial screening interview followed by three subsequent sessions: an introductory interview, an evaluation visit, and an overnight neurophysiological recording session. Data from multiple domains, including demographic and clinical characteristics, behavioral performance (cognitive tasks, motor sequence tasks), and neurophysiological metrics (both awake and sleep electroencephalography), are collected by research groups specialized in each domain.

CONCLUSION

Pilot results from the GRINS project demonstrate the feasibility of this study protocol and highlight the importance of such research, as well as its potential to study a broader range of patients with psychiatric conditions. Through GRINS, we are generating a valuable dataset across multiple domains to identify neurophysiological markers of schizophrenia individually and in combination. By applying this protocol to related mental disorders often confounded with each other, we can gather information that offers insight into the neurophysiological characteristics and underlying mechanisms of these severe conditions, informing objective diagnosis, stratification for clinical research, and ultimately, the development of better-targeted treatment matching in the clinic.

EEG Spatial-temporal Dynamics of Resting-state Activity in Young Women with Anorexia Nervosa: Preliminary Evidence

The aim of this study was to provide preliminary evidence on temporal dynamics of resting-state brain networks in youth with anorexia nervosa (AN) using electroencephalography (EEG). Resting-state EEG data were collected in 18 young women with AN and 18 healthy controls (HC). Between-group differences in brain networks were assessed using microstates analyses. Five microstates were identified across all subjects (A, B, C, D, E). Using a single set of maps representative of the whole dataset, group differences were identified for microstates A, C, and E. A common-for-all template revealed a relatively high degree of consistency in results for reduced time coverage of microstate C, but also an increased presence of microstate class E. AN and HC had different microstate transition probabilities, largely involving microstate A. Using LORETA, for microstate D, we found that those with AN had augmented activations in the left frontal inferior operculum, left insula, and bilateral paracentral lobule, compared with HC. For microstate E, AN had augmented activations in the para-hippocampal gyrus, caudate, pallidum, cerebellum, and cerebellar vermis. Our findings suggest altered microstates in young women with AN associated with integration of sensory and bodily signals, monitoring of internal/external mental states, and self-referential processes. Future research should examine how EEG-derived microstates could be applied to develop diagnostic and prognostic models of AN.

Distinguishing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder through a Multiclass Classification model based on multimodal neuroimaging data

This study aimed to identify neural biomarkers for schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BP) by analyzing multimodal neuroimaging. Utilizing data from structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), multiclass classification models were created for SZ, BP, and healthy controls (HC). A total of 113 participants (BP: 31, SZ: 39, and HC: 43) were recruited under strict enrollment control, from which 272, 200, and 1875 features were extracted from sMRI, DTI, and rs-fMRI data, respectively. A support vector machine (SVM) with recursive feature elimination (RFE) was employed to build the models using a one-against-one approach and leave-one-out cross-validation, achieving a classification accuracy of 70.8%. The most discriminative features were primarily from rs-fMRI, along with significant findings in sMRI and DTI. Key biomarkers identified included the increased thickness of the left cuneus cortex and decreased regional functional connectivity strength (rFCS) in the left supramarginal gyrus as shared indicators for BP and SZ. Additionally, decreased fractional anisotropy in the left superior fronto-occipital fasciculus was suggested as specific to BP, while decreased rFCS in the left inferior parietal area might serve as a specific biomarker for SZ. These findings underscore the potential of multimodal neuroimaging in distinguishing between BP and SZ and contribute to the understanding of their neural underpinnings.

Mismatch negativity in schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders: Group and sex differences and associations with symptom severity

OBJECTIVE

Research increasingly implicates glutamatergic dysfunction in the pathophysiologies of psychotic disorders. Auditory mismatch negativity (MMN) is an electroencephalography (EEG) waveform linked to glutamatergic neurotransmission and is consistently attenuated in schizophrenia (SCZ). MMN consists of two subcomponents, the repetition positivity (RP) and deviant negativity (DN) possibly reflecting different neural mechanisms. However, whether MMN reduction is present across different psychotic disorders, linked to distinct symptom clusters, or related to sex remain to be clarified.

METHODS

Four hundred participants including healthy controls (HCs; n = 296) and individuals with SCZ (n = 39), bipolar disorder (BD) BD typeI (n = 35), or BD type II (n = 30) underwent a roving MMN paradigm and clinical evaluation. MMN, RP and DN as well their memory traces were recorded at the FCZ electrode. Analyses of variance and linear regression models were used both transdiagnostically and within clinical groups.

RESULTS

MMN was reduced in SCZ compared to BD (p = 0.006, d = 0.55) and to HCs (p < 0.001, d = 0.63). There was a significant group × sex interaction (p < 0.003) and the MMN impairment was only detected in males with SCZ. MMN amplitude correlated positively with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score and negatively with Global Assessment of Functioning Scale score. The deviant negativity was impaired in males with SCZ. No group differences in memory trace indices of the MMN, DN, or RP.

CONCLUSION

MMN was attenuated in SCZ and correlated with greater severity of psychotic symptoms and lower level of functioning. Our results may indicate sex-dependent differences of glutamatergic function in SCZ.

Auditory event-related potentials, neurocognition, and global functioning in drug naïve first-episode schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Deficits in event-related potential (ERP) including duration mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a have been demonstrated widely in chronic schizophrenia (SZ) but inconsistent findings were reported in first-episode patients. Psychotropic medications and diagnosis might contribute to different findings on MMN/P3a ERP in first-episode patients. The present study examined MMN and P3a in first episode drug naïve SZ and bipolar disorder (BPD) patients and explored the relationships among ERPs, neurocognition and global functioning.

METHODS

Twenty SZ, 24 BPD and 49 age and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Data of clinical symptoms [Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), Young Manic Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD)], neurocognition [Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), Cattell's Culture Fair Intelligence Test (CCFT), Delay Matching to Sample (DMS), Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP)], and functioning [Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST)] were collected. P3a and MMN were elicited using a passive auditory oddball paradigm.

RESULTS

Significant MMN and P3a deficits and impaired neurocognition were found in both SZ and BPD patients. In SZ, MMN was significantly correlated with FAST (r = 0.48) and CCFT (r = -0.31). In BPD, MMN was significantly correlated with DMS (r = -0.54). For P3a, RVP and FAST scores were significant predictors in SZ, whereas RVP, WAIS and FAST were significant predictors in BPD.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study found deficits in MMN, P3a, neurocognition in drug naïve SZ and BPD patients. These deficits appeared to link with levels of higher-order cognition and functioning.

Application of auditory mismatch negativity in tinnitus patients based on high-resolution electroencephalogram signals

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the significance of mismatch negativity (MMN) by comparing high-resolution electroencephalogram signals from tinnitus patients and healthy controls.

Methods

The study included eight subjects with chronic subjective idiopathic tinnitus and seven healthy controls. Participants with clinical speech (512-2,000 Hz) hearing thresholds less than 25 dB HL and with negative Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores were included in the study. The E-Prime 2.0 software and a 256-electrode EGI Net Station system were used to evoke and record the MMN signal, and the amplitude and latency parameters of the MMN responses were compared between the two groups.

Results

From 150 ms, there was a significant difference between the amplitude of standard stimulation and deviation stimulation, and the event-related potential amplitude under deviation stimulation in the tinnitus patient group was significantly different from that in the healthy group. The MMN amplitude of the FCz electrode was statistically significantly lower in the tinnitus patients compared to healthy controls.

Conclusion

MMN has application value in the evaluation of abnormal electrical activity in the auditory pathway, and electroencephalograms are feasible for follow-up monitoring after acoustic therapy.

Stress-related cognitive style is related to volumetric change of the hippocampus and FK506 binding protein 5 polymorphism in post-traumatic stress disorder

BACKGROUND

Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) show a different stress-related cognitive style compared with healthy controls (HC). The FK506 binding protein 5 gene (FKBP5), one of the PTSD known risk factors, is involved in the stress response through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain volumetric alterations. The present study aimed to uncover the neural correlates of stress-related cognitive styles through the analysis of the regional brain volumes and FKBP5 genotype in patients with PTSD compared with HC.

METHODS

In this study, 51 patients with PTSD and 94 HC were assessed for stress-related cognitive styles, PTSD symptoms severity, and genotype of FKBP5 single nucleotide polymorphisms, and underwent T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging. Diagnosis-by-genotype interaction for regional brain volumes was examined in 16 brain regions of interest.

RESULTS

Patients with PTSD showed significantly higher levels of catastrophizing, ruminative response, and repression, and reduced distress aversion and positive reappraisal compared with HC (p < 0.001). Significant diagnosis-by-genotype interactions for regional brain volumes were observed for bilateral hippocampi and left frontal operculum. A significant positive correlation between the severity of the repression and left hippocampal volume was found in a subgroup of patients with PTSD with FKBP5 rs3800373 (AA genotype) or rs1360780 (CC genotype).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed the influences of FKBP5 genotype on the distorted cognitive styles in PTSD by measuring the volumetric alteration of hippocampal regions, providing a possible role of the hippocampus and left frontal operculum as significant neurobiological correlates of PTSD.

Auditory mismatch negativity in bipolar disorder: a focused review

The auditory mismatch negativity, a component of the event-related potential elicited by an unexpected stimulus in a sequence of acoustic stimuli, provides an objective measure of the accuracy of the echoic information processing of the human brain in vivo. Auditory mismatch negativity is also a useful probe of cortical glutamatergic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor activity and disturbance. Notably, auditory mismatch negativity is consistently impaired in schizophrenia. Because of the wide spectrum extending from bipolar affective illness and schizoaffective psychosis to typical schizophrenia, we examined the literature on auditory mismatch negativity in bipolar disorder with the aim to find any neurophysiological dysfunction concerning pre-attentive information processing shared by these clinical conditions. This focused review includes 26 original articles published in peer-reviewed journals and indexed in the National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine (PubMed) search system. Overall, evidence is consistent with the finding that auditory mismatch negativity is impaired in bipolar disorder with psychotic features, even though to a lesser extent than in schizophrenia. It must be acknowledged that, in a few twin and family studies, mismatch negativity abnormalities were not specifically associated with bipolar disorder. In conclusion, auditory mismatch negativity research supports the involvement of the N-methyl-d-aspartate system in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, as previously assessed for schizophrenia, thus creating an intriguing trait d'union between these two mental illnesses and stimulating the development of novel therapeutic agents. With additional replication and validation, auditory mismatch negativity may be further considered as a correlate of a common psychopathology of schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum illnesses.

Implication of Electrophysiological Biomarkers in Psychosis: Focusing on Diagnosis and Treatment Response

Precision medicine has been considered a promising approach to diagnosis, treatment, and various interventions, considering the individual clinical and biological characteristics. Recent advances in biomarker development hold promise for guiding a new era of precision medicine style trials for psychiatric illnesses, including psychosis. Electroencephalography (EEG) can directly measure the full spatiotemporal dynamics of neural activation associated with a wide variety of cognitive processes. This manuscript reviews three aspects: prediction of diagnosis, prognostic aspects of disease progression and outcome, and prediction of treatment response that might be helpful in understanding the current status of electrophysiological biomarkers in precision medicine for patients with psychosis. Although previous EEG analysis could not be a powerful method for the diagnosis of psychiatric illness, recent methodological advances have shown the possibility of classifying and detecting mental illness. Some event-related potentials, such as mismatch negativity, have been associated with neurocognition, functioning, and illness progression in schizophrenia. Resting state studies, sophisticated ERP measures, and machine-learning approaches could make technical progress and provide important knowledge regarding neurophysiology, disease progression, and treatment response in patients with schizophrenia. Identifying potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment response in schizophrenia is the first step towards precision medicine.

Classification of First-Episode Schizophrenia, Chronic Schizophrenia and Healthy Control Based on Brain Network of Mismatch Negativity by Graph Neural Network

Mismatch negativity (MMN) has been consistently found deficit in schizophrenia, which was considered as a promising biomarker for assessing the impairments in pre-attentive auditory processing. However, the functional connectivity between brain regions based on MMN is not clear. This study provides an in-depth investigation in brain functional connectivity during MMN process among patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FESZ), chronic schizophrenia (CSZ) and healthy control (HC). Electroencephalography (EEG) data of 128 channels is recorded during frequency and duration MMN in 40 FESZ, 40 CSZ patients and 40 matched HC subjects. We reconstruct the cortical endogenous electrical activity from EEG recordings using exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography and build functional brain networks based on source-level EEG data. Then, graph-theoretic features are extracted from the brain networks with the support vector machine (SVM) to classify FESZ, CSZ and HC groups, since the SVM has good generalization ability and robustness as a universally applicable nonlinear classifier. Furthermore, we introduce the graph neural network (GNN) model to directly learn for the network topology of brain network. Compared to HC, the damaged brain areas of CSZ are more extensive than FESZ, and the damaged area involved the auditory cortex. These results demonstrate the heterogeneity of the impacts of schizophrenia for different disease courses and the association between MMN and the auditory cortex. More importantly, the GNN classification results are significantly better than those of SVM, and hence the EEG-based GNN model of brain networks provides an effective method for discriminating among FESZ, CSZ and HC groups.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as a tool to assist the diagnosis of major psychiatric disorders in a Chinese population

Advances in neuroimaging have promised the development of specific and objective biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Recently, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has been used during cognitive tasks to measure cortical dysfunction associated with mental illnesses such as Schizophrenia (SCH), Major-Depressive disorder (MD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD). We investigated the ability of fNIRS as a clinically viable tool to successfully distinguish healthy individuals from those with major psychiatric disorders. 316 patients with major psychiatric disorders (198 SCH/54 MD/64 BP) and 101 healthy controls were included in this study. Changes in oxygenated-hemoglobin during a Chinese language verbal fluency test were measured using a 52-channel fNIRS machine over the bilateral temporal and frontal lobe areas. We evaluated the ability of two task-evoked features selected from prior studies the Integral and Centroid values, to identify individuals with major diagnoses. Both the integral value of frontal and centroid value of temporal showed sensitivity in classifying individuals with mental disorders from healthy controls. However, using a combined index featuring both the integral value and centroid value to differentiate psychiatric disorders from healthy controls with an AUC of 0.913, differentiate individuals with mood disorders from healthy controls showed an AUC of 0.899, while for schizophrenia the AUC was 0.737. Our data suggest that fNIRS can be used as a candidate biomarker during differential diagnosis individuals with mood or psychosis disorders and offer a step towards individualization of treatment.

Mismatch Negativity and Loudness Dependence of Auditory Evoked Potentials among Patients with Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, and Bipolar I Disorder

Mismatch negativity (MMN) and loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP), which are event-related potentials, have been investigated as biomarkers. MMN indicates the pre-attentive function, while LDAEP may be an index of central serotonergic activity. This study aimed to test whether MMN and LDAEP are useful biological markers for distinguishing patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), as well as the relationship between MMN and LDAEP. Fifty-five patients with major depressive episodes, aged 20 to 65 years, who had MDD (n = 17), BD type II (BIID) (n = 27), and BD type I (BID) (n = 11), were included based on medical records. Patients with MDD had a higher MMN amplitude than those with BID. In addition, the MMN amplitude in F4 positively correlated with the Korean version of mood disorder questionnaire scores (r = 0.37, p = 0.014), while the MMN amplitude in F3 correlated negatively with LDAEP (r = −0.30, p = 0.024). The odds ratios for the BID group and some variables were compared with those for the MDD group using multinomial logistic regression analysis. As a result, a significant reduction of MMN amplitude was found under BID diagnosis compared to MDD diagnosis (p = 0.015). This study supported the hypothesis that MMN amplitude differed according to MDD, BIID, and BID, and there was a relationship between MMN amplitude and LDAEP. These findings also suggested that BID patients had a reduced automatic and pre-attentive processing associated with serotonergic activity or N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor.

Mismatch negativity indices and functional outcomes in unipolar and bipolar depression

The aim of the study was to explore the association between functional outcomes and mismatch negativity (MMN) activity in participants with mood disorders. The study participants were 27 subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD), 29 subjects with bipolar disorder (BD), and 33 healthy controls who performed a passive auditory oddball paradigm while electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded. Peak amplitudes and source activity of the MMN were compared across groups. Mood and anxiety symptoms were evaluated. The functional levels were the lowest in the BD group, followed by the MDD and healthy control groups. The subjects with BD had significantly lower MMN amplitudes at the frontal and frontocentral electrodes than the healthy controls. The source activity of the MMN from the left anterior cingulate cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, and middle frontal gyrus was significantly increased in the BD group compared to the MDD group. Significant correlations were detected between the functional outcomes and MMN amplitudes at frontal and frontocentral sites. The functional outcome was significantly correlated with left frontal regions. In conclusion, MMN activity appears to be a promising candidate as an evaluation tool for functional outcomes in mood disorders.

Altered Cortical Thickness-Based Individualized Structural Covariance Networks in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Structural covariance is described as coordinated variation in brain morphological features, such as cortical thickness and volume, among brain structures functionally or anatomically interconnected to one another. Structural covariance networks, based on graph theory, have been studied in mental disorders. This analysis can help in understanding the brain mechanisms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We investigated cortical thickness-based individualized structural covariance networks in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were obtained from 39 patients with schizophrenia, 37 patients with bipolar disorder type I, and 32 healthy controls, and cortical thickness was analyzed via a surface-based morphometry analysis. The structural covariance of cortical thickness was calculated at the individual level, and covariance networks were analyzed based on graph theoretical indices: strength, clustering coefficient (CC), path length (PL) and efficiency. At the global level, both patient groups showed decreased strength, CC and efficiency, and increased PL, compared to healthy controls. In bipolar disorder, we found intermediate network measures among the groups. At the nodal level, schizophrenia patients showed decreased CCs in the left suborbital sulcus and the right superior frontal sulcus, compared to bipolar disorder patients. In addition, patient groups showed decreased CCs in the right insular cortex and the left superior occipital gyrus. Global-level network indices, including strength, CCs and efficiency, positively correlated, while PL negatively correlated, with the positive symptoms of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for patients with schizophrenia. The nodal-level CC of the right insular cortex positively correlated with the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, while that of the left superior occipital gyrus positively correlated with the Young Mania Rating Scale scores for bipolar disorder. Altered cortical structural networks were revealed in patients, and particularly, the prefrontal regions were more altered in schizophrenia. Furthermore, altered cortical structural networks in both patient groups correlated with core pathological symptoms, indicating that the insular cortex is more vulnerable in schizophrenia, and the superior occipital gyrus is more vulnerable in bipolar disorder. Our individualized structural covariance network indices might be promising biomarkers for the evaluation of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Impaired Subcortical Detection of Auditory Changes in Schizophrenia but Not in Major Depression

The mismatch negativity is a cortical response to auditory changes and its reduction is a consistent finding in schizophrenia. Recent evidence revealed that the human brain detects auditory changes already at subcortical stages of the auditory pathway. This finding, however, raises the question where in the auditory hierarchy the schizophrenic deficit first evolves and whether the well-known cortical deficit may be a consequence of dysfunction at lower hierarchical levels. Finally, it should be resolved whether mismatch profiles differ between schizophrenia and affective disorders which exhibit auditory processing deficits as well. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess auditory mismatch processing in 29 patients with schizophrenia, 27 patients with major depression, and 31 healthy control subjects. Analysis included whole-brain activation, region of interest, path and connectivity analysis. In schizophrenia, mismatch deficits emerged at all stages of the auditory pathway including the inferior colliculus, thalamus, auditory, and prefrontal cortex. In depression, deficits were observed in the prefrontal cortex only. Path analysis revealed that activation deficits propagated from subcortical to cortical nodes in a feed-forward mechanism. Finally, both patient groups exhibited reduced connectivity along this processing stream. Auditory mismatch impairments in schizophrenia already manifest at the subcortical level. Moreover, subcortical deficits contribute to the well-known cortical deficits and show specificity for schizophrenia. In contrast, depression is associated with cortical dysfunction only. Hence, schizophrenia and major depression exhibit different neural profiles of sensory processing deficits. Our findings add to a converging body of evidence for brainstem and thalamic dysfunction as a hallmark of schizophrenia.

Auditory Mismatch Negativity Under Predictive Coding Framework and Its Role in Psychotic Disorders

Traditional neuroscience sees sensory perception as a simple feedforward process. This view is challenged by the predictive coding model in recent years due to the robust evidence researchers had found on how our prediction could influence perception. In the first half of this article, we reviewed the concept of predictive brain and some empirical evidence of sensory prediction in visual and auditory processing. The predictive function along the auditory pathway was mainly studied by mismatch negativity (MMN)-a brain response to an unexpected disruption of regularity. We summarized a range of MMN paradigms and discussed how they could contribute to the theoretical development of the predictive coding neural network by the mechanism of adaptation and deviance detection. Such methodological and conceptual evolution sharpen MMN as a tool to better understand the structural and functional brain abnormality for neuropsychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia.

Neurophysiological and Psychological Predictors of Social Functioning in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to examine social functioning in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and explore the psychological and neurophysiological predictors of social functioning.

METHODS

Twenty-seven patients with schizophrenia and thirty patients with bipolar disorder, as well as twenty-five healthy controls, completed measures of social functioning (questionnaire of social functioning), neurocognition (Verbal fluency, Korean-Auditory Verbal Learning Test), and social cognition (basic empathy scale and Social Attribution Task-Multiple Choice), and the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ). For neurophysiological measurements, mismatch negativity and heart rate variability (HRV) were recorded from all participants. Multiple hierarchical regression was performed to explore the impact of factors on social functioning.

RESULTS

The results showed that CTQ-emotional neglect significantly predicted social functioning in schizophrenia group, while HRV-high frequency significantly predicted social functioning in bipolar disorder patients. Furthermore, emotional neglect and HRV-HF still predicted social functioning in all of the subjects after controlling for the diagnostic criteria.

CONCLUSION

Our results implicated that even though each group has different predictors of social functioning, early traumatic events and HRV could be important indicators of functional outcome irrespective of what group they are.

Influence of childhood trauma and brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism on posttraumatic stress symptoms and cortical thickness

Interaction between childhood trauma and genetic factors influences the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the interaction effect of childhood trauma and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism on PTSD symptoms and brain cortical thickness. A total of 216 participants (133 healthy volunteers and 83 PTSD patients) were recruited. T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging, BDNF rs6265 genotyping through blood sampling, and clinical assessments including the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) and posttraumatic stress disorder Checklist (PCL) were performed. A moderated regression analysis, two-way multivariate analysis of covariance, and correlation analysis were conducted. An interaction between the CTQ and the BDNF polymorphism significantly influenced PTSD symptom severity. In fact, people with rs6265 Val/Val genotype and higher CTQ scores showed higher PCL scores. Additionally, this interaction was significant on both left fusiform and transverse temporal gyri thickness. Furthermore, the thickness of both brain regions was significantly correlated with psychological symptoms including depression, anxiety, rumination, and cognitive emotion regulation methods; yet this was mainly observed in people with the Val/Val genotype. The interaction between childhood trauma and BDNF polymorphism significantly influences both PTSD symptoms and cortical thickness and the Val/Val genotype may increase the risk in Korean population.