Ketamine-induced deficits in auditory and visual context-dependent processing in healthy volunteers - Implications for models of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia

Background: In patients with schizophrenia, deficient generation of mismatc h negativity (MMN)-an eventrelated potential (ERP) indexing auditory sensor y ("echoic") memory-and a selective increase of "context dependent" ("BX") errors in the "A-X" version of the Continuous Performance Test (AX-CPT) ind icate an impaired ability to form and use transient memory traces. Animal a nd human studies implicate deficient N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) functioning in such abnormalities. In this study, effects of the NMDAR anta gonists ketamine on MMN generation and AX-CPT performance were investigated in healthy volunteers to test the hypothesis that NMDARs are critically in volved in human MMN generation, and to assess the nature of ketamine-induce d deficits in AX-CPT performance. Methods: In a single blind placebo-controlled study, 20 healthy volunteers underwent an infusion with subanesthetic doses of ketamine. The MMN-to-pitc h and MMN-to-duration deviants were obtained while subjects performed an AX -CPT. Results: Ketamine significantly decreased the peak amplitudes of the MMN-to -pitch and MMN-to-duration deviants by 27% and 21%, respectively. It induce d performance deficits in the AX-CPT characterized by decreased hit rates a nd specific increases of errors (BX errors), reflecting a failure to form a nd use transient memory traces of task relevant information. Conclusions: The NMDARs are critically involved in human MMN generation. De ficient MMN in schizophrenia thus suggests deficits in NMDAR-related neurot ransmission. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor dysfunction may also contribute to the impairment of patients with schizophrenia in forming and using trans ient memory traces in more complex tasks, such as the AX-CPT. Thus, NMDAR-r elated dysfunction may underlie deficits in transient memory at different l evels of information processing in schizophrenia.