Gamma activity in schizophrenia: evidence of impaired network binding?

OBJECTIVES Gamma ('40 Hz') rhythms may play a role in the integration of sensory processing activity. Impaired temporal integration may be a key feature of the associated disturbances in schizophrenia. This is the first study to examine the time course of Gamma activity induced in response to stimuli in this disorder. METHODS Gamma activity induced in response to task-relevant and irrelevant auditory oddball stimuli was examined in 35 medicated schizophrenics and 35 age- and gender-matched normal controls. We employed a moving Welch window with short time FFT to examine the time course of Gamma amplitude. The amplitude spectrum for each time point was de-trended to eliminate any contribution of broad spectrum activity (EEG or EMG) to Gamma amplitude. RESULTS For targets, schizophrenics showed a significant decrease in post-stimulus Gamma response amplitude in left hemisphere and frontal sites and an increase in right hemisphere and parieto-occipital sites (P<0.0009). The abnormalities correlated with PANSS general symptom scores. In the non-targets (at a different latency), schizophrenics showed a widespread Gamma decrease (P<0.0005). CONCLUSIONS The Gamma findings in non-targets may reflect an abnormality in appropriately processing irrelevant stimuli. This could result in defective processing of the context (integration) of relevant target information.