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Alpha rhythm and hypofrontality in schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Knyazeva M. G.,
Jalili M.,
Meuli R.,
Hasler M.,
De Feo O.,
Do K. Q.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01227.x
Subject(s) - electroencephalography , alpha (finance) , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , beta rhythm , rhythm , psychology , beta (programming language) , alpha rhythm , prefrontal cortex , neuroscience , audiology , developmental psychology , cognition , psychiatry , medicine , psychometrics , computer science , construct validity , programming language
Objective: To reveal the EEG correlates of resting hypofrontality in schizophrenia (SZ). Method: We analyzed the whole‐head EEG topography in 14 patients compared to 14 matched controls by applying a new parameterization of the multichannel EEG. We used a combination of power measures tuned for regional surface mapping with power measures that allow evaluation of global effects. Results: The SZ‐related EEG abnormalities include i) a global decrease in absolute EEG power robustly manifested in the alpha and beta frequency bands, and ii) a relative increase in the alpha power over the prefrontal brain regions against its reduction over the posterior regions. In the alpha band both effects are linked to the SZ symptoms measured with Positive and Negative Symptom Scales and to chronicity. Conclusion: As alpha activity is related to regional deactivation, our findings support the concept of hypofrontality in SZ and expose the alpha rhythm as a sensitive indicator of it.