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Schizophrenia and Spectral Analysis of the Visual Evoked Potential

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

J. W. Jutai*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Charing Cross Hospital Medical School, 24 St. Dunstans Road, London W6 8RP
J. H. Gruzelier
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Charing Cross Hospital Medical School
J. F. Connolly
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
R. Manchanda
Affiliation:
Charing Cross Hospital Medical School
S. R. Hirsch
Affiliation:
Charing Cross Hospital Medical School
*
Correspondence.

Summary

Power spectral analysis was performed on the visual evoked potentials (VEPs) recorded in response to flashes of different intensity in both unmedicated schizophrenic and normal subjects. At occipital locations (01, 02), schizophrenics showed less power than normals in the 10–14 Hz frequency range. In the 18–22 Hz range, schizophrenics showed under-activation in the left hemisphere and over-activation in the right. At temporal locations (T3, T4), schizophrenics showed abnormal (left greater than right) hemisphere patterns of activation in 10–14 Hz and 18–22 Hz ranges. There were no group differences in relationships between power and intensity changes at vertex (Cz). The results suggest abnormal cortical-subcortical interactions during analysis of visual information in schizophrenia.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1984 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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