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Exploring electrophysiological correlates of social cognition in subclinical schizotypy
Author(s) -
Davidson Charlie Andrew,
Kiat John E.,
Tarasenko Melissa,
Ritchie A. Jocelyn,
Molfese Dennis,
Spaulding William D.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
personality and mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1932-863X
pISSN - 1932-8621
DOI - 10.1002/pmh.1413
Subject(s) - schizotypy , psychology , subclinical infection , cognition , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , social cognition , psychosis , event related potential , developmental psychology , schizophrenia spectrum , stimulus (psychology) , electrophysiology , neuroscience , schizotypal personality disorder , cognitive psychology , audiology , psychiatry , medicine
Impairments in social cognition and associated abnormalities in brain function are well documented in psychotic disorders. They may represent neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities and may therefore be present in less severe or even subclinical conditions of the schizophrenia spectrum, such as schizotypy. Schizotypy has features highly suggestive of social cognitive impairments, but little is known about possible related abnormalities of brain function. This exploratory pilot study examines electrophysiological event‐related potentials (ERPs) implicated in schizophrenia, in 23 undergraduates with a range of subclinical schizotypal characteristics. ERPs were recorded in response to emotional face stimuli in an experimental paradigm designed to assess very early stages of social stimulus processing. Three ERPs were assessed, P100, N170 and P300. P100 and P300 were found to be related to multiple schizotypal features, but N170 was not. The results support occurrence of social cognitive impairments linked to abnormal brain function across the schizophrenia spectrum. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.