Meta-analysis of auditory P50 sensory gating in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

The ability of the brain to reduce the amount of trivial or redundant sensory inputs is called gating function. Dysfunction of sensory gating may lead to cognitive fragmentation and poor real-world functioning. The auditory dual-click paradigm is a pertinent neurophysiological measure of sensory gating function.

Depression genetic risk score is associated with anhedonia-related markers across units of analysis.

Investigations of pathophysiological mechanisms implicated in vulnerability to depression have been negatively impacted by the significant heterogeneity characteristic of psychiatric syndromes. Such challenges are also reflected in numerous null findings emerging from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of depression. Bolstered by increasing sample sizes, recent GWAS studies have identified genetics variants linked to MDD.

Executive functioning in familial bipolar I disorder patients and their unaffected relatives.

Objective: To compare the executive function of patients with familial bipolar I disorder (BP-I) with a history of psychotic symptoms to their first-degree relatives and normal controls.

Methods: Three domains of executive function: response inhibition, working memory, and cognitive set shifting were assessed in 44 familial patients with a lifetime diagnosis of BP-I who had experienced psychotic symptoms, 42 of their unaffected first-degree relatives, and 47 controls.

Results: Bipolar disorder patients and their unaffected relatives had significantly worse scores for response inhibition compared to healthy controls.

Heritability of apnea of prematurity: a retrospective twin study.

Background: Apnea of prematurity (AOP) is a disturbance in respiratory rhythm defined by idiopathic pauses in breathing that reduce blood oxygen levels and/or heart rate. It is a major clinical problem among preterm infants.

Objectives: The primary goal of this study was to estimate the genetic susceptibility to AOP in a cohort of preterm twins.

White matter microstructural impairments and genetic liability to familial bipolar I disorder.

Background: Subtle abnormalities in frontal white matter have been reported in bipolar disorder.

Aims: To assess whether impaired integrity of white matter tracts is associated with bipolar disorder and genetic liability for the disorder.

Method: A total of 19 patients with psychotic bipolar I disorder from multiply affected families, 21 unaffected first-degree relatives and 18 comparison individuals (controls) underwent diffusion tensor imaging.

Heritability and reliability of P300, P50 and duration mismatch negativity.

Background: Event-related potentials (ERPs) have been suggested as possible endophenotypes of schizophrenia. We investigated the test-retest reliabilities and heritabilities of three ERP components in healthy monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs.

Methods: ERP components (P300, P50 and MMN) were recorded using a 19-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) in 40 healthy monozygotic twin pairs, 19 of them on two separate occasions, and 30 dizygotic twin pairs.

Genetic overlap between P300, P50, and duration mismatch negativity.

Mismatch Negativity (MMN), P300, and P50 suppression event-related potential (ERP) components measure intermediate stages of information processing but little is known of how they relate to each other genetically. The present study used multivariate genetic model fitting analytic techniques in 46 monozygotic and 32 dizygotic twin pairs. P300, P50 suppression, and MMN were recorded using a 19-channel electroencephalograph (EEG).