Neurocortical electrical activity tomography in chronic schizophrenics

Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2003 Sep;61(3B):712-7. doi: 10.1590/s0004-282x2003000500002. Epub 2003 Oct 28.

Abstract

Functional imaging of brain electrical activity was performed in 25 chronic medicated schizophrenics and 40 controls, analyzing the classical frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, and beta) of 19-channel EEG during resting state to identify brain regions with deviant activity of different functional significances, using LORETA (Low Resolution Tomography) and SPM99 (Statistical Parametric Mapping). Patients differed from controls due to an excess of slow activity comprising delta + theta frequency bands (inhibitory pattern) located at the right middle frontal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, and right insula, as well as at the bilateral anterior cingulum with a left preponderance. The high temporal resolution of EEG enables the specification of the deviations not only as an excess or a deficit of brain electrical activity, but also as inhibitory (delta, theta), normal (alpha), and excitatory (beta) activities. These deviations point out to an impaired functional brain state consisting of inhibited frontal and prefrontal areas that may result in inadequate treatment of externally or internally generated information.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chronic Disease
  • Delta Rhythm
  • Electroencephalography / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetoencephalography*
  • Male
  • Schizophrenia / pathology
  • Schizophrenia / physiopathology*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Theta Rhythm