Markers from event-related potential subcomponents and reaction time for information processing dysfunction in schizophrenia

Event-related potentials (ERPs) can serve as markers for cognitive processi ng stages. Identification of those ERPs altered in schizophrenia offer info rmation about cognitive dysfunction. Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were elicited within an oddball paradigm in 35 schizophrenic patients and compa red with 35 healthy controls. N100 and P200, as well as N200, frontal P300 and parietal P300 subcomponents, were separated using dipole source analysi s. The amplitudes of the N100 and the parietal P300 measured in schizophren ics were diminished. The input-related processing stages (N100 and P200) we re not altered, whereas later, the deviant and task-related processes (N200 , frontal P300, parietal P300 and reaction time) were significantly prolong ed in schizophrenia.