›› 2009, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (11): 1351-.

• Original article (Clinical research) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on neural generators of N400 in first episode schizophrenia

CHEN Xing-shi1, TANG Yun-xiang2, XIAO Ze-ping3, WANG Ji-jun4, ZHANG Ming-dao1, ZHANG Zai-fu5, HU Zhen-yu6, CHEN Zhong-ming6, LOU Fei-ying1, CHEN Chong1, YANG Jie1   

  1. 1. Department of Electrophysiology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China|2. Department of Psychology, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China|3. Department of Psychiatry, 4. Department of Electronic Encephalography Source Imaging, Shanghai Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030|5. Department of Psychiatry, Jinhua The Second Hospital, Jinhua 321016, China|6. Department of Psychiatry, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo 315201, China
  • Online:2009-11-25 Published:2009-11-24
  • Supported by:

    National Natural Science Foundation of China, 30770772, 30971046；National High Technology Research and Development Program of China, “863” Program, 2008AA02Z412, 2007AA02Z420；Shanghai Science and Technology Committee Foundation, 7411950

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Abstract:

Objective To explore the features and neural generators of the events related potentials (ERP) component N400, elicited by congruent and incongruent ending sentences, in first episode schizophrenia patients. Methods N400 was elicited by 76 congruent (31) or incongruent (45) ending Chinese sentences paradigm, and recorded by WJ-1 ERP instruments in 56 first episode schizophrenia. The neural generators of N400 different wave in 105-615 ms time windows were analyzed by Brain Electrical Activity Mapping software. Results ① The N400 latencies were significantly longer and amplitudes significantly higher in incongruent conditions than in congruent conditions in first episode schizophrenia (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ② N400 elicited by Chinese sentences distributed on frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal regions, and had a clear waveform. ③ The main brain areas activated by N400 were frontal areas in 345-405 ms time windows, and central areas in 420-570 ms time windows. Conclusion N400 elicited by Chinese sentences are multi-generated in first episode schizophrenia, especially in frontal area.

Key words: schizophrenia, N400, neural generators, event related potentials, Chinese sentences, brain electrical activity mapping