ERP study of information processing disturbance on schizophrenia--from aspects of automatic processing and controlled processing

• Published in: Psychiatria et neurologia Japonica Vol. 98; no. 10; p. 807
• Main Authors: Kirino, E, Shinomiya, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 1996
• Subjects: Adult; Event-Related Potentials, P300; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Processes; Schizophrenic Psychology
• ISSN: 0033-2658

We studied the relationship between automatic processing and controlled processing in schizophrenic disorder and examined the changes of the relationship through various clinical courses of the illness using event related potentials (ERPs). Thirty schizophrenic patients were classified into two groups according to ERP variations; group-A consisted of schizophrenics who showed higher mismatch negativity (MMN) amplitudes and lower P300 amplitudes than group-B patients. After pharmacological treatment, MMN amplitudes decreased and P300 increased in group-A patients. On the other hand, MMN amplitudes increased, but no significant changes in P300 amplitudes were recognized in group-B patients. MMN amplitudes had a negative correlation with the extent of dilatation of the left Sylvian fissure and the bilateral lateral ventricles on CT scans. From these results, it is suggested that automatic processing and controlled processing complement each other in information processing of schizophrenics. In group-A, higher MMN amplitudes suggested plasticity of processing dysfunction, which showed good social adjustment after pharmacological treatment. In group-B, more severe vulnerability to the disorder was suggested from lower MMN amplitudes, which showed poor social adjustment after the treatment.