This project proposes to identify patterns of EEG activity associated with performance on information processing tasks of proven sensitivity to schizophrenic dysfunction. Two tasks will be used, the Span of Apprehension (Span), an index of the efficiency of visual information processing, and the Continuous Performance Task (CPT), a measure of vigilance. These tasks are sensitive to acutely disturbed and partially recovered schizophrenic adults, and children who are actively schizophrenic or at risk. Event related EEG potentials (ERPs) will be recorded while subjects are performing these tasks. Temporal components of the ERP associated with different aspects of information processing will be examined to provide evidence concerning those aspects of cognitive processing affected by schizophrenia. Multivariate statistical analyses along with the use of an extensive array of electrodes (for mapping the topographic distribution of the scalp ERP activity) will permit inferences about brain systems underlying performance. A recently completed pilot study utilzing a Principal Components Analysis of ERP data along with ANOVA and SWDA techniques reveals differences between schizophrenic and normal children not only in performance but also in ERPs. Diminished amplitude and delays in the onset and resolution of the CNV as well as decreased amplitude of the N1 component in the schizophrenic group imply difficulties in the mobilization and direction of selective attention. Both CNV and N1 how different patterns of lateralization in the two groups. Second, there is an impairment of those processes underlying the identification of significant stimuli (the """"""""P3"""""""" component) in the schizophrenics. A pilot study with younger normal children shows that the deficits seen in schizophrenic children are not merely a function of developmental delay. Grant support is requested to: 1) test large groups of subjects to confirm pilot results, 2) to run groups of younger normals to assess maturation effects, 3) to test for the specificity of these findings by using a contrast group showing another form of attentional impairment (attention deficit disorder), and 4) to purchase additonal recording and amplifying equipment to identify regional differnces in the ERPs with greater resolution to provide clues concerning the brain systems underlying information processing impairment in schizophrenia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH037665-02
Application #
3376263
Study Section
(PCBB)
Project Start
1984-12-01
Project End
1987-11-30
Budget Start
1985-12-01
Budget End
1986-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
119132785
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
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Strandburg, R J; Marsh, J T; Brown, W S et al. (1994) Continuous-processing related ERPS in schizophrenic and normal children. Biol Psychiatry 35:525-38
Strandburg, R J; Marsh, J T; Brown, W S et al. (1994) Reduced attention-related negative potentials in schizophrenic adults. Psychophysiology 31:272-81
Strandburg, R J; Marsh, J T; Brown, W S et al. (1994) Information-processing deficits across childhood- and adult-onset schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 20:685-95
Strandburg, R J; Marsh, J T; Brown, W S et al. (1993) Event-related potentials in high-functioning adult autistics: linguistic and nonlinguistic visual information processing tasks. Neuropsychologia 31:413-34
Woodward, S H; Brown, W S; Marsh, J T et al. (1991) Probing the time-course of the auditory oddball P3 with secondary reaction time. Psychophysiology 28:609-18
Strandburg, R J; Marsh, J T; Brown, W S et al. (1991) Reduced attention-related negative potentials in schizophrenic children. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 79:291-307
Strandburg, R J; Marsh, J T; Brown, W S et al. (1990) Event-related potential correlates of impaired attention in schizophrenic children. Biol Psychiatry 27:1103-15
Guthrie, D (1990) Intergroup and intrasubject principal component analysis of event-related potentials. Psychophysiology 27:111-9