Background
A deficit in sustained attention might serve as an endophenotype for schizophrenia
and therefore be a useful tool in understanding the genetic underpinnings of the disorder.
We sought to detail functional brain abnormalities associated with sustained attention
(i.e., vigilance) in individuals with genetic liability for schizophrenia.
Methods
We gathered electrophysiological data from 23 schizophrenia patients, 28 first-degree
biological relatives of schizophrenia patients, and 23 nonpsychiatric control subjects
while they performed a degraded-stimulus continuous performance task. Inclusion of
sensory control trials allowed separation of target detection and vigilance effects
on brain potentials.
Results
Schizophrenia patients, but not relatives, showed a behavioral deficit in sustained
attention. During target detection, relatives exhibited diminished late positive amplitudes
(P3b, i.e., P300) over parietal brain regions and augmented early posterior (P1) and
right frontal (anterior N1) potentials. Electrophysiological anomalies were still
evident after the exclusion of three relatives with histories of psychosis.
Conclusions
Genetic liability for schizophrenia is associated with augmented early and diminished
late brain potentials during sustained attention. Electrophysiological anomalies suggestive
of right frontal–posterior parietal dysfunction might represent neural expression
of genetic liability for schizophrenia. Electrophysiological indices also seem to
be more sensitive than behavioral measures in assessing genetic liability for schizophrenia.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 06, 2006
Accepted:
November 18,
2005
Received in revised form:
September 9,
2005
Received:
June 13,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
