EEG alpha photic driving abnormalities in chronic schizophrenia

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 313 - 324
• Main Authors: Rice, Daniel M., Potkin, Steven G., Jin, Yi, Isenhart, Robert, Heh, C.W.Chris, Sramek, John, Costa, Jerome, Sandman, Curt A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.12.1989; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Alpha Rhythm; Arousal - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology; Chronic Disease; EEG photic driving; Electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha rhythm; Electroencephalography; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Photic Stimulation; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - physiopathology; Schizophrenic Psychology; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Space life sciences; Techniques and methods; Thalamic Nuclei - physiopathology; thalamus; Visual Perception - physiology; Electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha rhythm; schizophrenia; EEG photic driving; thalamus; Human; Psychosis; Chronic; Central nervous system; Electrophysiology; Schizophrenia; Luminous stimulus; Thalamus; Electroencephalography; α-Rhythm; Differential diagnostic
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/0165-1781(89)90022-X

Periodic photic stimuli across the entire electroencephalographic (EEG) frequency range were used in an attempt to assess EEG functional differences between chronic schizophrenic patients and control subjects. The EEG responses to these photic stimuli were significantly attenuated in the schizophrenic patients, specifically at the frequencies within the EEG alpha range. The schizophrenic patients also showed an alpha range attenuation in the “no stimulus” EEG alpha measure, such that there was a significant correlation across subjects between the “stimulus” and “no stimulus” EEG alpha range abnormalities. These abnormalities are discussed with reference to possible dysfunctional thalamic mechanisms involved in the pacing of EEG alpha activity and the gating of information through the cerebral cortex.