EEG coherence in a mental arithmetic task performance in first episode schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

Objectives: To evaluate the coherence values of the cortical bands in patients with first episode schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder during the performance of a mental arithmetic task.

Method: We analysed EEG coherence in the resting state and subsequently while counting down from 200 in steps of 7 in 32 first episode schizophrenia patients (SZ), 32 patients with first episode schizoaffective disorder (SA) and 40 healthy controls (HC).

Results: Task performance in HC is characterised by decreased coherence in the alpha bands and increased coherence in the beta 2 and gamma bands in frontal sites.

The Dopamine Receptor D2 C957T Polymorphism Modulates Early Components of Event-Related Potentials in Visual Word Recognition Task.

Background: Visual word recognition is one of the central topics in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Genetic factors are known to contribute to the visual word recognition, but no genes associated with this process have been identified so far. We studied the impact of the DRD2 C957T polymorphism on the efficiency of visual word recognition by measuring its neuronal correlates and behavioral parameters.

[Perception of Verbal Stimuli in the Norm and in Schizophrenia].

The present study investigates the early stages of selection of meaningful and meaningless verbal-in- formation in an implicit and two explicit tasks by means of the parameters of latency and amplitude of P100 EP component in healthy subjects (n = 99) and in schizophrenia patients with the first psy- chotic episode (n = 102). The obtained results indicate the disturbance of passive perception of meaningful verbal information in psychotic patients. When the instruction is presented patients re- spond similar to norm.

Cognitive bias salience in patients with schizophrenia in relation to social functioning: A four-case observation study.

Neurocognition and social cognition are the core deficits influencing social outcomes in patients with schizophrenia. These deficits are present in the prodromal phase, throughout the illness and in first-degree relatives. They are considered in the framework of neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative models as well as candidates for endophenotypes of schizophrenia.

Long-term trajectories of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia: A critical overview.

Background: Cognitive disturbances are widely pronounced in schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Whilst cognitive deficits are well established in the prodromal phase and are known to deteriorate at the onset of schizophrenia, there is a certain discrepancy of findings regarding the cognitive alterations over the course of the illness.

Methods: We bring together the results of the longitudinal studies identified through PubMed which have covered more than 3 years follow-up and to reflect on the potential factors, such as sample characteristics and stage of the illness which may contribute to the various trajectories of cognitive changes.