Alterations in resting-state gamma activity in patients with schizophrenia: a high-density EEG study

Genetic modulation of brain dynamics in neurodevelopmental disorders: the impact of copy number variations on resting-state EEG

Research has shown that many copy number variations (CNVs) increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism, ADHD, schizophrenia). However, little is known about the effects of CNVs on brain development and function. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) is a suitable method to study the disturbances of neuronal functioning in CNVs. We aimed to determine whether there are resting-state EEG signatures that are characteristic of children with pathogenic CNVs. EEG resting-state brain activity of 109 CNV carriers (66 deletion carriers, 43 duplication carriers) aged 3 to 17 years was recorded for 4 minutes. To better account for developmental variations, EEG indices (power spectral density and functional connectivity) were corrected with a normative model estimated from 256 Healthy Brain Network controls. Results showed a decreased exponent of the aperiodic activity and a reduced alpha peak frequency in CNV carriers. Additionally, the study showed altered periodic components and connectivity in several frequency bands. Deletion and duplication carriers exhibited a similar overall pattern of deviations in spectral and connectivity measures, although the significance and effect sizes relative to the control group varied across frequency bands. Deletion and duplication carriers can be differentiated by their periodic power in the gamma band and connectivity in the low alpha band, with duplication carriers showing more disrupted alterations than deletion carriers. The distinctive alterations in spectral patterns were found to be most prominent during adolescence. The results suggest that CNV carriers show electrophysiological alterations compared to neurotypical controls, regardless of the gene dosage effect and their affected genomic region. At the same time, while duplications and deletions share common electrophysiological alterations, each exhibits distinct brain alteration signatures that reflect gene dosage-specific effects.

Resting-state EEG and MEG gamma frequencies in schizophrenia: a systematic review and exploratory power-spectrum metanalysis

The hypoactivity of parvalbumin-containing interneurons (PV-interneurons) is a pathogenetic mechanism of schizophrenia according to the glutamatergic theory, and PV-interneurons are necessary for the generation of EEG/MEG gamma-frequencies (30-100 Hz). The present study aims to a literature synthesis on resting-state gamma-frequency changes in patients with schizophrenia vs healthy controls, and to examine the relationship between these changes and severity of symptoms. A protocol was enregistered in PROSPERO and a systematic search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, following PRISMA guidelines. An exploratory metanalysis was realized. Out of 1391 records, 43 were included for a qualitative synthesis (N = 2133 [11-185], females 37.4%, age 33.9 ± 9.2). Results on power spectra were heterogeneous: in 12 studies gamma power was increased, involving the whole brain (N = 3), multiple regions (N = 6) or only frontal (N = 1), central (n = 1) and temporal (N = 1) areas; in 3 studies gamma power was reduced, involving multiple areas (N = 2) or the right temporal region (N = 1); one study revealed mixed results and 13 studies showed no differences. The meta-analysis on 4 studies (N = 211) showed non-significant differences between patients and controls and a large heterogeneity. The functional connectivity picture consists of sparse patterns of decreases and/or increases, widespread to multiple regions. Relationships emerged between gamma power and connectivity and severity of psychotic and cognitive symptoms. Theta-gamma coupling was increased in patients, with limited evidence for other changes in phase-amplitude coupling. Resting-state gamma-frequencies alterations in schizophrenia were inconsistent across studies; the heterogeneity of patients and methods could partially explain this outcome.

Wavelet Transform, Reconstructed Phase Space, and Deep Learning Neural Networks for EEG-Based Schizophrenia Detection

This study proposes an innovative expert system that uses exclusively EEG signals to diagnose schizophrenia in its early stages. For diagnosing psychiatric/neurological disorders, electroencephalogram (EEG) testing is considered a financially viable, safe, and reliable alternative. Using the reconstructed phase space (RPS) and the continuous wavelet transform, the researchers maximized the differences between the EEG nonstationary signals of normal and schizophrenia individuals, which cannot be observed in the time, frequency, or time-frequency domains. This reveals significant information, highlighting more distinguishable features. Then, a deep learning network was trained to enhance the accuracy of the resulting image classification. The algorithm's efficacy was confirmed through three distinct methods: employing 70% of the dataset for training, 15% for validation, and the remaining 15% for testing. This was followed by a 5-fold cross-validation technique and a leave-one-out classification approach. Each method was iterated 100 times to ascertain the algorithm's robustness. The performance metrics derived from these tests - accuracy, precision, sensitivity, F1 score, Matthews correlation coefficient, and Kappa - indicated remarkable outcomes. The algorithm demonstrated steady performance across all evaluation strategies, underscoring its relevance and reliability. The outcomes validate the system's accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and robustness by showcasing its capability to autonomously differentiate individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia from those in a state of normal health.

Human brain imaging with high-density electroencephalography: Techniques and applications

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a technique for non-invasively measuring neuronal activity in the human brain using electrodes placed on the participant's scalp. With the advancement of digital technologies, EEG analysis has evolved over time from the qualitative analysis of amplitude and frequency modulations to a comprehensive analysis of the complex spatiotemporal characteristics of the recorded signals. EEG is now considered a powerful tool for measuring neural processes in the same time frame in which they happen (i.e. the subsecond range). However, it is commonly argued that EEG suffers from low spatial resolution, which makes it difficult to localize the generators of EEG activity accurately and reliably. Today, the availability of high-density EEG (hdEEG) systems, combined with methods for incorporating information on head anatomy and sophisticated source-localization algorithms, has transformed EEG into an important neuroimaging tool. hdEEG offers researchers and clinicians a rich and varied range of applications. It can be used not only for investigating neural correlates in motor and cognitive neuroscience experiments, but also for clinical diagnosis, particularly in the detection of epilepsy and the characterization of neural impairments in a wide range of neurological disorders. Notably, the integration of hdEEG systems with other physiological recordings, such as kinematic and/or electromyography data, might be especially beneficial to better understand the neuromuscular mechanisms associated with deconditioning in ageing and neuromotor disorders, by mapping the neurokinematic and neuromuscular connectivity patterns directly in the brain.

Optogenetic inhibition of the limbic corticothalamic circuit does not alter spontaneous oscillatory activity, auditory-evoked oscillations, and deviant detection

Aberrant neuronal circuit dynamics are at the core of complex neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia (SZ). Clinical assessment of the integrity of neuronal circuits in SZ has consistently described aberrant resting-state gamma oscillatory activity, decreased auditory-evoked gamma responses, and abnormal mismatch responses. We hypothesized that corticothalamic circuit manipulation could recapitulate SZ circuit phenotypes in rodent models. In this study, we optogenetically inhibited the mediodorsal thalamus-to-prefrontal cortex (MDT-to-PFC) or the PFC-to-MDT projection in rats and assessed circuit function through electrophysiological readouts. We found that MDT-PFC perturbation could not recapitulate SZ-linked phenotypes such as broadband gamma disruption, altered evoked oscillatory activity, and diminished mismatch negativity responses. Therefore, the induced functional impairment of the MDT-PFC pathways cannot account for the oscillatory abnormalities described in SZ.

Pattern glare sensitivity distinguishes subclinical autism and schizotypy

INTRODUCTION

Schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder are distinct neurodevelopmental disorders sharing clinically relevant behaviours. However, early sensory responses show divergent responses. Individuals with schizophrenia typically exhibit cortical hypo-excitability whereas individuals with autism show cortical hyperexcitability. Identifying reliable neurobiological differences between the disorders can diminish misdiagnosis and optimise treatments.

METHODS

The pattern glare test (PGT) is a simple measure of behavioural hyperexcitability. It measures the number of illusions seen in a static horizontal grating. We collected PGT data from non-clinical adults varying in traits of autism and schizophrenia (schizotypy). 576 undergraduate students completed an online survey consisting of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire - Brief Revised, the Autism Spectrum Quotient, and the PGT.

RESULTS

Subclinical autism and schizotypy traits were highly positively correlated. However, only schizotypy scores were significantly predictive of reporting more pattern glare (PG) illusions. When assessing the subcomponents of the schizotypy and autism scores, positive and disorganised schizotypy traits were predictive of reporting more PG illusions. Whereas, subclinical autism factors were not predictive of PG illusions.

CONCLUSIONS

High schizotypy performed the PGT in a manner consistent with behavioural hyperexcitability. The PGT distinguished subclinical autistic traits from schizotypy, suggesting potential clinical application.

Gamma Oscillations and Potassium Channel Modulation in Schizophrenia: Targeting GABAergic Dysfunction

Impairments in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) interneuron function lead to gamma power abnormalities and are thought to underlie symptoms in people with schizophrenia. Voltage-gated potassium 3.1 (Kv3.1) and 3.2 (Kv3.2) channels on GABAergic interneurons are critical to the generation of gamma oscillations suggesting that targeting Kv3.1/3.2 could augment GABAergic function and modulate gamma oscillation generation. Here, we studied the effect of a novel potassium Kv3.1/3.2 channel modulator, AUT00206, on resting state frontal gamma power in people with schizophrenia. We found a significant positive correlation between frontal resting gamma (35-45 Hz) power (n = 22, r = 0.613, P < .002) and positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) positive symptom severity. We also found a significant reduction in frontal gamma power (t13 = 3.635, P = .003) from baseline in patients who received AUT00206. This provides initial evidence that the Kv3.1/3.2 potassium channel modulator, AUT00206, may address gamma oscillation abnormalities in schizophrenia.

Temporal hyper-connectivity and frontal hypo-connectivity within gamma band in schizophrenia: A resting state EEG study

OBJECTIVE

The brain network serves as the physiological foundation for information processing of the brain. Many studies have reported abnormalities of gamma oscillations in Schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the gamma-band connectivity in Schizophrenia patients.

METHODS

We recorded the resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) for 15 schizophrenia patients with refractory auditory hallucinations and 14 healthy controls, with eyes open and closed. The brain network was constructed based on weighted phase lag index for gamma band. Whole scalp metrics (clustering coefficient, global efficiency and local efficiency) and local region metrics (degree and betweenness centrality) in the frontal and temporal lobes were computed. Correlation analyses between network metrics and symptom scales were examined to find associations with symptom severity.

RESULTS

Schizophrenia patients had larger global efficiency and local efficiency (p < 0.05) with eyes closed, probably representing greater brain activity and information exchange. For degree and betweenness centrality, schizophrenia patients showed an increase (p < 0.05) in the temporal lobe but a decrease (p < 0.05) in the frontal lobe with eyes closed and open, potentially account for the patients' symptoms such as hallucinations and thought disorders. Local efficiency and frontal lobe degree were positively and negatively correlated with the scales, respectively (both p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Altered connectivity of the resting state brain network has been revealed and may be associated with the core symptoms of schizophrenia. Our study provides promising evidence for the investigation of the pathological basis of Schizophrenia and could aid in objective diagnosis.

Modulators of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders: past, present, and future

The predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acts at ionotropic GABAA receptors to counterbalance excitation and regulate neuronal firing. GABAA receptors are heteropentameric channels comprised from subunits derived from 19 different genes. GABAA receptors have one of the richest and well-developed pharmacologies of any therapeutic drug target, including agonists, antagonists, and positive and negative allosteric modulators (PAMs, NAMs). Currently used PAMs include benzodiazepine sedatives and anxiolytics, barbiturates, endogenous and synthetic neurosteroids, and general anesthetics. In this article, I will review evidence that these drugs act at several distinct binding sites and how they can be used to alter the balance between excitation and inhibition. I will also summarize existing literature regarding (1) evidence that changes in GABAergic inhibition play a causative role in major depression, anxiety, postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and schizophrenia and (2) whether and how GABAergic drugs exert beneficial effects in these conditions, focusing on human studies where possible. Where these classical therapeutics have failed to exert benefits, I will describe recent advances in clinical and preclinical drug development. I will also highlight opportunities to advance a generation of GABAergic therapeutics, such as development of subunit-selective PAMs and NAMs, that are engendering hope for novel tools to treat these devastating conditions.

Region-specific changes in brain activity and memory after continuous positive airway pressure therapy in obstructive sleep apnea: a pilot high-density electroencephalography study

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Limited channel electroencephalography (EEG) investigations in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have revealed deficits in slow wave activity (SWA) and spindles during sleep and increased EEG slowing during resting wakefulness. High-density EEG (Hd-EEG) has also detected local parietal deficits in SWA (delta power) during NREM. It is unclear whether effective continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment reverses regional SWA deficits, and other regional sleep and wake EEG abnormalities, and whether any recovery relates to improved overnight memory consolidation.

METHODS

A clinical sample of men with moderate-severe OSA underwent sleep and resting wake recordings with 256-channel Hd-EEG before and after 3 months of CPAP. Declarative and procedural memory tasks were administered pre- and post-sleep. Topographical spectral power maps and differences between baseline and treatment were compared using t-tests and statistical nonparametric mapping (SnPM).

RESULTS

In 11 compliant CPAP users (5.2 ± 1.1 hours/night), total sleep time did not differ after CPAP but N1 and N2 sleep were lower and N3 was higher. Centro-parietal gamma power during N3 increased and fronto-central slow spindle activity during N2 decreased (SnPM < 0.05). No other significant differences in EEG power were observed. When averaged specifically within the parietal region, N3 delta power increased after CPAP (p = 0.0029) and was correlated with the change in overnight procedural memory consolidation (rho = 0.79, p = 0.03). During resting wakefulness, there were trends for reduced delta and theta power.

CONCLUSIONS

Effective CPAP treatment of OSA may correct regional EEG abnormalities, and regional recovery of SWA may relate to procedural memory improvements in the short term.

Potassium channel modulators and schizophrenia: an overview of investigational drugs

INTRODUCTION

Schizophrenia is severe mental illness comprised of positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Existing pharmacologic options exert their actions on the dopamine receptor but are largely ineffective at treating negative and cognitive symptoms. Alternative pharmacologic options that do not act directly on the dopamine receptor are being investigated, including potassium channel modulators. It has been hypothesized that dysfunctional fast-spiking parvalbumin-positive GABA interneurons, regulated by Kv 3.1 and Kv 3.2 potassium channels, contribute to the symptoms of schizophrenia, making potassium channels an area of clinical interest.

AREAS COVERED

This review will highlight potassium channel modulators for the treatment of schizophrenia, with a focus on AUT00206. Background on Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 potassium channels will be explored. Our search strategy included a literature review utilizing PubMed, Clinicaltrials.gov, and sources available on the manufacturer's website.

EXPERT OPINION

Initial data on potassium channel modulators is promising, however, further study is needed, and existing evidence is limited. Early data suggests that dysfunctional GABA interneurons can be ameliorated through modulators of Kv3.1 and Kv3.2 channels. AUT00206 has been shown to improve dopaminergic dysfunction induced by ketamine and PCP, improve resting gamma power in patients with schizophrenia, impact dopamine synthesis capacity in a subgroup of individuals with schizophrenia, and affect reward anticipation-related neural activation.

Differential Effects of Clozapine and Haloperidol on the 40 Hz Auditory Steady State Response-mediated Phase Resetting in the Prefrontal Cortex of the Female Sprague Dawley Rat

BACKGROUND

Neural synchrony at gamma frequency (~40 Hz) is important for information processing and is disrupted in schizophrenia. From a drug development perspective, molecules that can improve local gamma synchrony are promising candidates for therapeutic development.

HYPOTHESIS

Given their differentiated clinical profile, clozapine, and haloperidol may have distinct effects on local gamma synchrony engendered by 40 Hz click trains, the so-called auditory steady-state response (ASSR).

STUDY DESIGN

Clozapine and haloperidol at doses known to mimic clinically relevant D2 receptor occupancy were evaluated using the ASSR in separate cohorts of female SD rats.

RESULTS

Clozapine (2.5-10 mg/kg, sc) robustly increased intertrial phase coherence (ITC), across all doses. Evoked response increased but less consistently. Background gamma activity, unrelated to the stimulus, showed a reduction at all doses. Closer scrutiny of the data indicated that clozapine accelerated gamma phase resetting. Thus, clozapine augmented auditory information processing in the gamma frequency range by reducing the background gamma, accelerating the gamma phase resetting and improving phase precision and signal power. Modest improvements in ITC were seen with Haloperidol (0.08 and 0.24 mg/kg, sc) without accelerating phase resetting. Evoked power was unaffected while background gamma was reduced at high doses only, which also caused catalepsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Using click-train evoked gamma synchrony as an index of local neural network function, we provide a plausible neurophysiological basis for the superior and differentiated profile of clozapine. These observations may provide a neurophysiological template for identifying new drug candidates with a therapeutic potential for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: aetiology, pathophysiology, and treatment

Cognitive deficits are a core feature of schizophrenia, account for much of the impaired functioning associated with the disorder and are not responsive to existing treatments. In this review, we first describe the clinical presentation and natural history of these deficits. We then consider aetiological factors, highlighting how a range of similar genetic and environmental factors are associated with both cognitive function and schizophrenia. We then review the pathophysiological mechanisms thought to underlie cognitive symptoms, including the role of dopamine, cholinergic signalling and the balance between GABAergic interneurons and glutamatergic pyramidal cells. Finally, we review the clinical management of cognitive impairments and candidate novel treatments.

Opposite Modulation of the NMDA Receptor by Glycine and S-Ketamine and the Effects on Resting State EEG Gamma Activity: New Insights into the Glutamate Hypothesis of Schizophrenia

NMDA-receptor hypofunction is increasingly considered to be an important pathomechanism in schizophrenia. However, to date, it has not been possible to identify patients with relevant NMDA-receptor hypofunction who would respond to glutamatergic treatments. Preclinical models, such as the ketamine model, could help identify biomarkers related to NMDA-receptor function that respond to glutamatergic modulation, for example, via activation of the glycine-binding site. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the effects of opposing modulation of the NMDA receptor on gamma activity (30-100 Hz) at rest, the genesis of which appears to be highly dependent on NMDA receptors. The effects of subanesthetic doses of S-ketamine and pretreatment with glycine on gamma activity at rest were examined in twenty-five healthy male participants using 64-channel electroencephalography. Psychometric scores were assessed using the PANSS and the 5D-ASC. While S-ketamine significantly increased psychometric scores and gamma activity at the scalp and in the source space, pretreatment with glycine did not significantly attenuate any of these effects when controlled for multiple comparisons. Our results question whether increased gamma activity at rest constitutes a suitable biomarker for the target engagement of glutamatergic drugs in the preclinical ketamine model. They might further point to a differential role of NMDA receptors in gamma activity generation.

EEG-based spatio-temporal relation signatures for the diagnosis of depression and schizophrenia

The diagnosis of psychiatric disorders is currently based on a clinical and psychiatric examination (intake). Ancillary tests are used minimally or only to exclude other disorders. Here, we demonstrate a novel mathematical approach based on the field of p-adic numbers and using electroencephalograms (EEGs) to identify and differentiate patients with schizophrenia and depression from healthy controls. This novel approach examines spatio-temporal relations of single EEG electrode signals and characterizes the topological structure of these relations in the individual patient. Our results indicate that the relational topological structures, characterized by either the personal universal dendrographic hologram (DH) signature (PUDHS) or personal block DH signature (PBDHS), form a unique range for each group of patients, with impressive correspondence to the clinical condition. This newly developed approach results in an individual patient signature calculated from the spatio-temporal relations of EEG electrodes signals and might help the clinician with a new objective tool for the diagnosis of a multitude of psychiatric disorders.

Neurexin1α knockout rats display oscillatory abnormalities and sensory processing deficits back-translating key endophenotypes of psychiatric disorders

Neurexins are presynaptic transmembrane proteins crucial for synapse development and organization. Deletion and missense mutations in all three Neurexin genes have been identified in psychiatric disorders, with mutations in the NRXN1 gene most strongly linked to schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While the consequences of NRXN1 deletion have been extensively studied on the synaptic and behavioral levels, circuit endophenotypes that translate to the human condition have not been characterized yet. Therefore, we investigated the electrophysiology of cortico-striatal-thalamic circuits in Nrxn1α-/- rats and wildtype littermates focusing on a set of translational readouts, including spontaneous oscillatory activity, auditory-evoked oscillations and potentials, as well as mismatch negativity-like (MMN) responses and responses to social stimuli. On the behavioral level Nrxn1α-/- rats showed locomotor hyperactivity. In vivo freely moving electrophysiology revealed pronounced increases of spontaneous oscillatory power within the gamma band in all studied brain areas and elevation of gamma coherence in cortico-striatal and thalamocortical circuits of Nrxn1α-/- rats. In contrast, auditory-evoked oscillations driven by chirp-modulated tones showed reduced power in cortical areas confined to slower oscillations. Finally, Nrxn1α-/- rats exhibited altered auditory evoked-potentials and profound deficits in MMN-like responses, explained by reduced prediction error. Despite deficits for auditory stimuli, responses to social stimuli appeared intact. A central hypothesis for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders is that a disbalance of excitation-to-inhibition is underlying oscillatory and sensory deficits. In a first attempt to explore the impact of inhibitory circuit modulation, we assessed the effects of enhancing tonic inhibition via δ-containing GABAA receptors (using Gaboxadol) on endophenotypes possibly associated with network hyperexcitability. Pharmacological experiments applying Gaboxadol showed genotype-specific differences, but failed to normalize oscillatory or sensory processing abnormalities. In conclusion, our study revealed endophenotypes in Nrxn1α-/- rats that could be used as translational biomarkers for drug development in psychiatric disorders.

High-Frequency Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation Modulates Gamma-Band EEG Source-Based Large-Scale Functional Network Connectivity in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial

Schizophrenia is associated with increased resting-state large-scale functional network connectivity in the gamma frequency. High-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (hf-tRNS) modulates gamma-band endogenous neural oscillations in healthy individuals through the application of low-amplitude electrical noises. Yet, it is unclear if hf-tRNS can modulate gamma-band functional connectivity in patients with schizophrenia. We performed a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial to contrast hf-tRNS (N = 17) and sham stimulation (N = 18) for treating negative symptoms in 35 schizophrenia patients. Short continuous currents without neuromodulatory effects were applied in the sham group to mimic real-stimulation sensations. We used electroencephalography to investigate if a five-day, twice-daily hf-tRNS protocol modulates gamma-band (33-45 Hz) functional network connectivity in schizophrenia. Exact low resolution electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) was used to compute intra-cortical activity from regions within the default mode network (DMN) and fronto-parietal network (FPN), and functional connectivity was computed using lagged phase synchronization. We found that hf-tRNS reduced gamma-band within-DMN and within-FPN connectivity at the end of stimulation relative to sham stimulation. A trend was obtained between the change in within-FPN functional connectivity from baseline to the end of stimulation and the improvement of negative symptoms at the one-month follow-up (r = -0.49, p = 0.055). Together, our findings suggest that hf-tRNS has potential as a network-level approach to modulate large-scale functional network connectivity pertaining to negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

High-power gamma-related delta phase alteration in schizophrenia patients at rest

AIM

Information processing is supported by the cortico-cortical transmission of neural oscillations across brain regions. Recent studies have demonstrated that the rhythmic firing of neural populations is not random but is governed by interactions with other frequency bands. Specifically, the amplitude of gamma-band oscillations is associated with the phase of lower frequency oscillations in support of short and long-range communications among networks. This cross-frequency relation is thought to reflect the temporal coordination of neural communication. While schizophrenia patients show abnormal oscillatory responses across multiple frequencies at rest, it is unclear whether the functional relationships among frequency bands are intact. This study aimed to characterize the lower frequency (delta/theta, 1-8 Hz) phase and the amplitude of gamma oscillations in healthy subjects and schizophrenia patients at rest.

METHODS

Low frequency-phase (delta- and theta- band) angles and gamma-band amplitude relationships were assessed in 142 schizophrenia patients and 128 healthy subjects.

RESULTS

Significant low-frequency phase alteration related to high-power gamma was detected across broadly distributed scalp regions in both healthy subjects and patients. In patients, delta phase synchronization related to high-power gamma was significantly decreased at the frontocentral, right middle temporal, and left temporoparietal electrodes but significantly increased at the left parietal electrode.

CONCLUSIONS

High-power gamma-related delta phase alteration may reflect a core pathophysiologic abnormality in schizophrenia. Data-driven measures of functional relationships among frequency bands may prove useful in the development of novel therapeutics. Future studies are needed to determine whether these alterations are specific to schizophrenia or appear in other neuropsychiatric patient populations.

Glycine attenuates impairments of stimulus-evoked gamma oscillations in the ketamine model of schizophrenia

Although a substantial number of studies suggests some clinical benefit concerning negative symptoms in schizophrenia through the modulation of NMDA-receptor function, none of these approaches achieved clinical approval. Given the large body of evidence concerning glutamatergic dysfunction in a subgroup of patients, biomarkers to identify those with a relevant clinical benefit through glutamatergic modulation are urgently needed. A similar reduction of the early auditory evoked gamma-band response (aeGBR) as found in schizophrenia patients can be observed in healthy subjects following the application of an NMDA-receptor antagonist in the ketamine-model, which addresses the excitation / inhibition (E/I) imbalance of the disease. Moreover, this oscillatory change can be related to the emergence of negative symptoms. Accordingly, this study investigated whether glycine-related increases of the aeGBR, through NMDA-receptor co-agonism, accompany an improvement concerning negative symptoms in the ketamine-model. The impact of subanesthetic ketamine doses and the pretreatment with glycine was examined in twenty-four healthy male participants while performing a cognitively demanding aeGBR paradigm with 64-channel electroencephalography. Negative Symptoms were assessed through the PANSS. S-Ketamine alone caused a reduction of the aeGBR amplitude associated with more pronounced negative symptoms compared to placebo. Pretreatment with glycine attenuated both, the ketamine-induced alterations of the aeGBR amplitude and the increased PANSS negative scores in glycine-responders, classified based on relative aeGBR increase. Thus, we propose that the aeGBR represents a possible biomarker for negative symptoms in schizophrenia related to insufficient glutamatergic neurotransmission. This would allow to identify patients with negative symptoms, who might benefit from glutamatergic treatment.

Sleep-Wake Rhythm and Oscillatory Pattern Analysis in a Multiple Hit Schizophrenia Rat Model (Wisket)

Electroencephalography studies in schizophrenia reported impairments in circadian rhythm and oscillatory activity, which may reflect the deficits in cognitive and sensory processing. The current study evaluated the circadian rhythm and the state-dependent oscillatory pattern in control Wistar and a multiple hit schizophrenia rat model (Wisket) using custom-made software for identification of the artifacts and the classification of sleep-wake stages and the active and quiet awake substages. The Wisket animals have a clear light-dark cycle similar to controls, and their sleep-wake rhythm showed only a tendency to spend more time in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and less in rapid eye movement (REM) stages. In spite of the weak diurnal variation in oscillation in both groups, the Wisket rats had higher power in the low-frequency delta, alpha, and beta bands and lower power in the high-frequency theta and gamma bands in most stages. Furthermore, the significant differences between the two groups were pronounced in the active waking substage. These data suggest that the special changes in the oscillatory pattern of this schizophrenia rat model may have a significant role in the impaired cognitive functions observed in previous studies.

Optogenetic manipulation of an ascending arousal system tunes cortical broadband gamma power and reveals functional deficits relevant to schizophrenia

Increases in broadband cortical electroencephalogram (EEG) power in the gamma band (30-80 Hz) range have been observed in schizophrenia patients and in mouse models of schizophrenia. They are also seen in humans and animals treated with the psychotomimetic agent ketamine. However, the mechanisms which can result in increased broadband gamma power and the pathophysiological implications for cognition and behavior are poorly understood. Here we report that tonic optogenetic manipulation of an ascending arousal system bidirectionally tunes cortical broadband gamma power, allowing on-demand tests of the effect on cortical processing and behavior. Constant, low wattage optogenetic stimulation of basal forebrain (BF) neurons containing the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) increased broadband gamma frequency power, increased locomotor activity, and impaired novel object recognition. Concomitantly, task-associated gamma band oscillations induced by trains of auditory stimuli, or exposure to novel objects, were impaired, reminiscent of findings in schizophrenia patients. Conversely, tonic optogenetic inhibition of BF-PV neurons partially rescued the elevated broadband gamma power elicited by subanesthetic doses of ketamine. These results support the idea that increased cortical broadband gamma activity leads to impairments in cognition and behavior, and identify BF-PV activity as a modulator of this activity. As such, BF-PV neurons may represent a novel target for pharmacotherapy in disorders such as schizophrenia which involve aberrant increases in cortical broadband gamma activity.

Abnormal phase discontinuity of alpha- and theta-frequency oscillations in schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia patients have abnormal electroencephalographic (EEG) power over multiple frequency bands, even at rest, though the primary neural generators and spatiotemporal dynamics of these abnormalities are largely unknown. Disturbances in the precise synchronization of oscillations within and across cortical sources may underlie abnormal resting-state EEG activity in schizophrenia patients.

METHODS

A novel assessment method was applied to identify the independent contributing sources of resting-state EEG and assess the phase discontinuity in schizophrenia patients (N = 148) and healthy subjects (N = 143).

RESULTS

A network of 11 primary contributing sources of scalp EEG was identified in both groups. Schizophrenia patients showed abnormal elevations of EEG power in the temporal region in the theta, beta, and gamma-bands, as well as the posterior cingulate gyrus in the delta, theta, alpha, and beta-bands. The higher theta-band power in the middle temporal gyrus was significantly correlated with verbal memory impairment in patients. The peak frequency of alpha was lower in patients in the cingulate and temporal regions. Furthermore, patients showed a higher rate of alpha phase discontinuity in the temporal region as well as a lower rate of theta phase discontinuity in the temporal and posterior cingulate regions.

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal rates of phase discontinuity of alpha- and theta-band, abnormal elevations of EEG power in multiple bands, and a lower peak frequency of alpha were identified in schizophrenia patients at rest. Clarification of the mechanistic substrates of abnormal phase discontinuity may clarify core pathophysiologic abnormalities of schizophrenia and contribute to the development of novel biomarkers for therapeutic interventions.

Cariprazine modulates sleep architecture in rats

BACKGROUND

Cariprazine is a dopamine D₃-preferring D₃/D₂ receptor partial agonist compound recently introduced to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Although cariprazine is clinically classified as a low-somnolence drug, to date no detailed polysomnographic study is available on its effect on sleep.

AIMS

This study examined the acute systemic effects of cariprazine on the rat sleep architecture and electroencephalography spectral power.

METHODS

Sprague Dawley rats were recorded during their normal sleep period for four hours, and their sleep stages were classified.

RESULTS

Cariprazine (0.3 mg/kg i.p.) reduced the time spent in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and increased REM latency. This dose of cariprazine decreased the gamma (40-80 Hz) band frequency oscillations and increased the theta (4-9 Hz) and alpha (9-15 Hz) frequencies during the wake periods but not during slow-wave sleep. The 0.03 mg/kg dose of cariprazine only increased the alpha power during the wake periods, while the 0.003 mg/kg dose was without any effect.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, the present results suggest that the REM-suppressing effect of cariprazine may be related to its effectiveness in improving depressive symptoms, as various drugs with similar REM-reducing properties effectively treat the depressive state, whereas the gamma power-reducing effect of cariprazine may be indicative of its efficacy in schizophrenia or mania, as similar effects have been observed with other D₂ and 5-HT₂ receptor antagonist drugs. These data contribute to our understanding of the complex mechanism of action that may stand behind the clinical efficacy of cariprazine.

Do NMDA-R antagonists re-create patterns of spontaneous gamma-band activity in schizophrenia? A systematic review and perspective

NMDA-R hypofunctioninig is a core pathophysiological mechanism in schizophrenia. However, it is unclear whether the physiological changes observed following NMDA-R antagonist administration are consistent with gamma-band alterations in schizophrenia. This systematic review examined the effects of NMDA-R antagonists on the amplitude of spontaneous gamma-band activity and functional connectivity obtained from preclinical (n = 24) and human (n = 9) studies and compared these data to resting-state EEG/MEG-measurements in schizophrenia patients (n = 27). Overall, the majority of preclinical and human studies observed increased gamma-band power following acute administration of NMDA-R antagonists. However, the direction of gamma-band power alterations in schizophrenia were inconsistent, which involved upregulation (n = 10), decreases (n = 7), and no changes (n = 8) in spectral power. Five out of 6 preclinical studies observed increased connectivity, while in healthy controls receiving Ketamine and in schizophrenia patients the direction of connectivity results was also inconsistent. Accordingly, the effects of NMDA-R hypofunctioning on gamma-band oscillations are different than pathophysiological signatures observed in schizophrenia. The implications of these findings for current E/I balance models of schizophrenia are discussed.

Ketamine Alters Functional Gamma and Theta Resting-State Connectivity in Healthy Humans: Implications for Schizophrenia Treatment Targeting the Glutamate System

Disturbed functional connectivity is assumed to cause neurocognitive deficits in patients suffering from schizophrenia. A Glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) dysfunction has been suggested as a possible mechanism underlying altered connectivity in schizophrenia, especially in the gamma- and theta-frequency range. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the NMDAR-antagonist ketamine on resting-state power, functional connectivity, and schizophrenia-like psychopathological changes in healthy volunteers. In a placebo-controlled crossover design, 25 healthy subjects were recorded using resting-state 64-channel-electroencephalography (EEG) (eyes closed). The imaginary coherence-based Multivariate Interaction Measure (MIM) was used to measure gamma and theta connectivity across 80 cortical regions. The network-based statistic was applied to identify involved networks under ketamine. Psychopathology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the 5-Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (5D-ASC). Ketamine caused an increase in all PANSS (p < 0.001) as well as 5D-ASC scores (p < 0.01). Significant increases in resting-state gamma and theta power were observed under ketamine compared to placebo (p < 0.05). The source-space analysis revealed two distinct networks with an increased mean functional gamma- or theta-band connectivity during the ketamine session. The gamma-network consisted of midline regions, the cuneus, the precuneus, and the bilateral posterior cingulate cortices, while the theta-band network involved the Heschl gyrus, midline regions, the insula, and the middle cingulate cortex. The current source density (CSD) within the gamma-band correlated negatively with the PANSS negative symptom score, and the activity within the gamma-band network correlated negatively with the subjective changed meaning of percepts subscale of the 5D-ASC. These results are in line with resting-state patterns seen in people who have schizophrenia and argue for a crucial role of the glutamate system in mediating dysfunctional gamma- and theta-band-connectivity in schizophrenia. Resting-state networks could serve as biomarkers for the response to glutamatergic drugs or drug development efforts within the glutamate system.

Delayed Functional Networks Development and Altered Fast Oscillation Dynamics in a Rat Model of Cortical Malformation

Malformations of cortical development (MCD) is associated with a wide range of developmental delay and drug resistant epilepsy in children. By using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) and event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) of cortical electroencephalography (EEG) data, we tried to investigate the neural changes of spatiotemporal functional connectivity (FC) and fast oscillation (FO) dynamics in a rat model of methylazoxymethanol (MAM)-induced MCD. A total of 28 infant rats with prenatal exposure to MAM and those of age matched 28 controls with prenatal saline exposure were used. RS-fMRI were acquired at postnatal day 15 (P15) and 29 (P29), and correlation coefficient analysis of eleven region of interests (ROI) was done to find the differences of functional networks between four groups. Two hour-cortical EEGs were also recorded at P15 and P29 and the ERSP of gamma (30–80 Hz) and ripples (80–200 Hz) were analyzed. The rats with MCD showed significantly delayed development of superior colliculus-brainstem network compared to control rats at P15. In contrast to marked maturation of default mode network (DMN) in controls from P15 to P29, there was no clear development in MCD rats. The MCD rats showed significantly higher cortical gamma and ripples-ERSP at P15 and lower cortical ripples-ERSP at P29 than those of control rats. This study demonstrated delayed development of FC and altered cortical FO dynamics in rats with malformed brain. The results should be further investigated in terms of the epileptogenesis and cognitive dysfunction in patients with MCD.

Altered parahippocampal gyrus activation and its connectivity with resting-state network areas in schizophrenia: An EEG study

Synchronized and coherent activity in resting-networks during normal brain functioning could be altered in disconnection syndrome like schizophrenia. Study of neural oscillations as assessed by EEG appears to be a promising proposition to understand the pathophysiology of schizophrenia in patients and their first-degree relatives, where disturbances in neural oscillations point towards genetic predisposition. Therefore, present study aims at establishing EEG based biomarkers for early detection and management strategies. Thirty-two patients with schizophrenia, 28 first-degree relatives and 31 healthy controls (HC) participated in the study. Resting brain activity was recorded using 128-channel electroencephalography. After pre-processing and independent component analysis (ICA), an equivalent current dipole was estimated for each IC. Total of 1551 independent and localizable EEG components across all groups were used in subsequent analysis. Power spectral density and source coherence between IC clusters were computed. Patients and first-degree relatives displayed significantly higher power spectral density (PSD) than HC for all frequency bands in left parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) (-7, -26, 8; BA 27). Another region within left deep PHG (-4, -28, 1), however, distinguished patients from first-degree relatives and HC in terms of significantly lower PSD in higher frequency bands. Functional connectivity (FC) was found to be lower in patients and higher in relatives compared to HC between different resting-state network areas. In patients, connectivity was lower compared to first-degree relatives. Altered activity within left PHG and FC of primarily this with other areas in resting-state network can serve as state and trait markers of schizophrenia.

Artificial intelligence-based classification of schizophrenia: A high density electroencephalographic and support vector machine study

BACKGROUND

Interview-based schizophrenia (SCZ) diagnostic methods are not completely valid. Moreover, SCZ-the disease entity is very heterogeneous. Supervised-Machine-Learning (sML) application of Artificial-Intelligence holds a tremendous promise in solving these issues.

AIMS

To sML-based discriminating validity of resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) quantitative features in classifying SCZ from healthy and, positive (PS) and negative symptom (NS) subgroups, using a high-density recording.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Data collected at a tertiary care mental-health institute using a cross-sectional study design and analyzed at a premier Engineering Institute.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of 38-SCZ patients and 20-healthy controls were retrieved. The positive-negative subgroup classification was done using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale operational-criteria. EEG was recorded using 256-channel high-density equipment. Eight priori regions-of-interest were selected. Six-level wavelet decomposition and Kernel-Support Vector Machine (SVM) method were used for feature extraction and data classification.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison of machine learning-features. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under receiver operating characteristics-curve were measured as discriminatory indices of classifications.

RESULTS

Accuracy of classifying SCZ from healthy and PS from NS SCZ, were 78.95% and 89.29%, respectively. While beta and gamma frequency related features most accurately classified SCZ from healthy controls, delta and theta frequency related features most accurately classified positive from negative SCZ. Inferior frontal gyrus features most accurately contributed to both the classificatory instances.

CONCLUSIONS

SVM-based classification and sub-classification of SCZ using EEG data is optimal and might help in improving the "validity" and reducing the "heterogeneity" in the diagnosis of SCZ. These results might only be generalized to acute and moderately ill male SCZ patients.

Induced Gamma-Band Activity during Actual and Imaginary Movements: EEG Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to record and analyze induced gamma-band activity (GBA) (30-60 Hz) in cerebral motor areas during imaginary movement and to compare it quantitatively with activity recorded in the same areas during actual movement using a simplified electroencephalogram (EEG). Brain activity (basal activity, imaginary motor task and actual motor task) is obtained from 12 healthy volunteer subjects using an EEG (Cz channel). GBA is analyzed using the mean power spectral density (PSD) value. Event-related synchronization (ERS) is calculated from the PSD values of the basal GBA (GBAb), the GBA of the imaginary movement (GBAim) and the GBA of the actual movement (GBAac). The mean GBAim and GBAac values for the right and left hands are significantly higher than the GBAb value (p = 0.007). No significant difference is detected between mean GBA values during the imaginary and actual movement (p = 0.242). The mean ERS values for the imaginary movement (ERSimM (%) = 23.52) and for the actual movement (ERSacM = 27.47) do not present any significant difference (p = 0.117). We demonstrated that ERS could provide a useful way of indirectly checking the function of neuronal motor circuits activated by voluntary movement, both imaginary and actual. These results, as a proof of concept, could be applied to physiology studies, brain-computer interfaces, and diagnosis of cognitive or motor pathologies.

Abnormal Spontaneous Gamma Power Is Associated With Verbal Learning and Memory Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia patients exhibit cognitive deficits across multiple domains, including verbal memory, working memory, and executive function, which substantially contribute to psychosocial disability. Gamma oscillations are associated with a wide range of cognitive operations, and are important for cortico-cortical transmission and the integration of information across neural networks. While previous reports have shown that schizophrenia patients have selective impairments in the ability to support gamma oscillations in response to 40-Hz auditory stimulation, it is unclear if patients show abnormalities in gamma power at rest, or whether resting-state activity in other frequency bands is associated with cognitive functioning in schizophrenia patients.

METHODS

Resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) was assessed over 3 min in 145 healthy comparison subjects and 157 schizophrenia patients. Single-word reading ability was measured via the reading subtest of the Wide Range Achievement Test-3 (WRAT). Auditory attention and working memory were evaluated using Letter-Number Span and Letter-Number Sequencing. Executive function was assessed via perseverative responses on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Verbal learning performance was measured using the California Verbal Learning Test second edition (CVLT-II).

RESULTS

Schizophrenia patients showed normal levels of delta-band power but abnormally elevated EEG power in theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands. An exploratory correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation of gamma-band power and verbal learning performance in schizophrenia patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with schizophrenia have abnormal resting-state EEG power across multiple frequency bands; gamma-band abnormalities were selectively and negatively associated with impairments in verbal learning. Resting-state gamma-band EEG power may be useful for understanding the pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction and developing novel therapeutics in schizophrenia patients.

Oscillations in cortico-basal ganglia circuits: implications for Parkinson’s disease and other neurologic and psychiatric conditions

Cortico-basal ganglia circuits are thought to play a crucial role in the selection and control of motor behaviors and have also been implicated in the processing of motivational content and in higher cognitive functions. During the last two decades, electrophysiological recordings in basal ganglia circuits have shown that several disease conditions are associated with specific changes in the temporal patterns of neuronal activity. In particular, synchronized oscillations have been a frequent finding suggesting that excessive synchronization of neuronal activity may be a pathophysiological mechanism involved in a wide range of neurologic and psychiatric conditions. We here review the experimental support for this hypothesis primarily in relation to Parkinson’s disease but also in relation to dystonia, essential tremor, epilepsy, and psychosis/schizophrenia.

Unsuccessful reduction of high-frequency alpha activity during cognitive activation in schizophrenia

AIMS

Electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha activity during resting state reflects the 'readiness' of an individual to respond to the environment; this includes the performance of cognitive processes. Alpha activity is reported to be attenuated in schizophrenia (SCZ). Understanding the interaction between alpha activity during rest and when cognitively engaged may provide insights into the neural circuitry, which is dysfunctional in SCZ. This study investigated the changes of alpha activity between resting state and cognitive engagement in SCZ patients.

METHODS

Thirty-four SCZ patients and 29 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. EEG was performed in the resting state and during an auditory P300 task. All experimental procedures followed the relevant institutional guidelines and regulations.

RESULTS

In SCZ, high-frequency alpha activity was reduced in the resting state. High-frequency alpha source density was decreased in both the resting-state and a P300 task condition in patients, compared to HC. HC, but not SCZ patients, showed a reduction in high-frequency alpha source density during the P300 task compared to the resting state. The negative correlation between high-frequency alpha source density in the resting state and positive symptoms was significant.

CONCLUSIONS

High-frequency alpha activity in SCZ patients and its unsuccessful reduction during cognitive processing may be biological markers of SCZ.

EEG Frequency Bands in Psychiatric Disorders: A Review of Resting State Studies

A significant proportion of the electroencephalography (EEG) literature focuses on differences in historically pre-defined frequency bands in the power spectrum that are typically referred to as alpha, beta, gamma, theta and delta waves. Here, we review 184 EEG studies that report differences in frequency bands in the resting state condition (eyes open and closed) across a spectrum of psychiatric disorders including depression, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, addiction, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia to determine patterns across disorders. Aggregating across all reported results we demonstrate that characteristic patterns of power change within specific frequency bands are not necessarily unique to any one disorder but show substantial overlap across disorders as well as variability within disorders. In particular, we show that the most dominant pattern of change, across several disorder types including ADHD, schizophrenia and OCD, is power increases across lower frequencies (delta and theta) and decreases across higher frequencies (alpha, beta and gamma). However, a considerable number of disorders, such as PTSD, addiction and autism show no dominant trend for spectral change in any direction. We report consistency and validation scores across the disorders and conditions showing that the dominant result across all disorders is typically only 2.2 times as likely to occur in the literature as alternate results, and typically with less than 250 study participants when summed across all studies reporting this result. Furthermore, the magnitudes of the results were infrequently reported and were typically small at between 20% and 30% and correlated weakly with symptom severity scores. Finally, we discuss the many methodological challenges and limitations relating to such frequency band analysis across the literature. These results caution any interpretation of results from studies that consider only one disorder in isolation, and for the overall potential of this approach for delivering valuable insights in the field of mental health.