title: Source distribution of neuromagnetic slow-wave activity in schizophrenic patients--effects of activation.
abstract: When slow waves in the EEG delta and theta frequency range appear in the waking state, they may indicate pathological conditions including psychopathology. The generators of focal slow waves can be mapped using magnetic source imaging. The resulting brain maps may possibly characterize dysfunctional brain areas. The present study examined the stability of the density and distribution of MEG slow waves during three conditions-rest, mental arithmetic and imagery-in 30 schizophrenic patients and 17 healthy controls. Schizophrenic patients displayed a higher density of delta and theta generators primarily in temporal and parietal areas. The group difference was not affected by the particular conditions. The focal concentration of delta and theta slow waves did not differ between patients with and without neuroleptic medication, whereas the prominence of theta dipoles in the temporal area correlated with neuroleptic dosage. The relative amount of temporal slow waves was correlated with the negative symptoms score (PANSS-N) suggesting that temporal dysfunction may be related to negative symptomatology.Results suggest that the distribution of slow-wave activity, measured in a standardized setting, might add diagnostic information about brain abnormalities in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, P.O. Box D23, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fehr
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kissler
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wienbruch
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moratti
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Elbert
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watzl
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rockstroh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015225:Magnetoencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013826:Theta Rhythm