IngentaConnect Alpha rhythm and hypofrontality in schizophrenia

Authors: Knyazeva, M. G.; Jalili, M.; Meuli, R.¹; Hasler, M.²; De Feo, O.³; Do, K. Q.⁴

Source: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Volume 118, Number 3, September 2008 , pp. 188-199(12)

Abstract:

Knyazeva MG, Jalili M, Meuli R, Hasler M, De Feo O, Do KQ. Alpha rhythm and hypofrontality in schizophrenia. 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.

Keywords: alpha rhythm; EEG power; resting hypofrontality; PANSS; schizophrenia

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01227.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne 2: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), School of Computer and Communication Sciences, IC-LANOS, Lausanne, Switzerland 3: Department of Microelectronic Engineering, University College Cork, Cork City, Ireland 4: Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

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