Abstract
Background
One of the most consistent findings in schizophrenia research over the past decade
is a reduction in the amplitude of an auditory event-related brain potential known
as mismatch negativity (MMN), which is generated whenever a deviant sound occurs in
a background of repetitive auditory stimulation. The reduced amplitude of MMN in schizophrenia
was first observed for deviant sounds that differ in duration relative to background
standard sounds, and similar findings have been observed for sounds that are deviant
in frequency. The aim of this study was to determine whether first-degree relatives
of schizophrenia patients show a similar reduction in MMN amplitude to duration deviants.
Methods
We measured MMN to duration increments (deviants 100 msec vs. standards 50 msec) in
22 medicated patients with a diagnosis in the schizophrenia spectrum, 17 individuals
who were first-degree unaffected relatives of patients, and 21 healthy control subjects.
Results
Mismatch negativity amplitude was reduced in patients and relatives compared with
control subjects. There were no significant differences between patients and relatives.
In contrast, the subsequent positive component, P3a, was larger in relatives compared
with patients.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that a reduced MMN amplitude may be an endophenotype marker
of the predisposition to schizophrenia.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 21,
2002
Received in revised form:
February 13,
2002
Received:
October 2,
2001
Identification
Copyright
© 2002 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
