Corpus callosum and P300 in schizophrenia

Functional abnormalities in the interhemispheric transfer via the corpus ca llosum in schizophrenia may result in filtering problems and information pr ocessing problems, which may in turn be related to the synchronization of c ortical event-related activity. To explore whether a relationship exists be tween corpus callosum (CC) size, measured with in-vivo magnetic resonance i maging, and late auditory event-related P300 potentials, 50 patients with s chizophrenia as well as 50 healthy controls were examined. The absolute CC size and subregional areas, as well as the CC areas adjusted for total brai n volume, were not significantly different between patients with schizophre nia acid controls. While no significant group differences were observed for P3a-. P3b-. PSW-amplitudes and P3b-latencies. P3a- and PSW-latencies were significantly prolonged for patients with schizophrenia. Absolute CC total size was significantly correlated with P3b-amplitudes in healthy controls ( r = 0.29: P = 0.044). In patients with schizophrenia, significant correlati ons were observed between the subregion of the posterior body of the CC and positive slow wave (PSW: r = 0.47; P = 0.001). P3a-. P3b- and PSW-latencie s were not significantly correlated to CC size in either patients with schi zophrenia or healthy controls. The results are discussed in terms of the po ssibility that abnormalities in interhemispheric transfer may underlie the mechanisms of schizophrenia. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.