Neuropsychological correlates of error negativity and positivity in schizophrenia patients

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper was to determine error-monitoring ability and its relationship with executive function in patients with schizophrenia. In order to evaluate error-monitoring ability, the error negativity (Ne) and error positivity (Pe) were measured using the Stroop task. The correct-related negativity (CRN) and positivity (Pc) were also measured. In addition, neuropsychological tests were administered in order to evaluate executive function. The patients with schizophrenia had significantly reduced Ne and augmented CRN amplitudes, but the Pe and Pc amplitudes of the patients were comparable to those of the controls. In addition, the Ne amplitude, measured at Fcz was positively correlated with the Trail Making Test (TMT), part B response time, and the categories achieved on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) in patients with schizophrenia. No significant correlations were found between Ne amplitude and performance on the neuropsychological tests in the controls. And no associations were detected between CRN, Pe, Pc amplitudes and neuropsychological performance, in either the patients with schizophrenia or the controls. Reduced Ne amplitudes and augmented CRN amplitudes in patients with schizophrenia suggest the dysfunctional behavior-monitoring system in these patients. The functional significances of Ne and Pe are discussed.

Neural Markers of Errors as Endophenotypes in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

“…Instead, this literature suggests that ACC abnormalities and error processing deficits are trait markers of genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia that predate the onset of illness. Impairments in evaluating and learning from errors in schizophrenia may substantially contribute to the rigid, perseverative, and maladaptive patterns of thought and behavior that characterize schizophrenia and compromise social and occupational function (Kim et al, 2006). In support of this possibility, a recent study reported that a blunted ERN was associated with more severe negative symptoms and poorer real world function as indicated by unemployment and re-hospitalization (Foti et al, 2012).…”

Error processing-associated event-related potentials in schizophrenia and unaffected siblings

“…Reduction of ERN amplitude is a robust abnormality reported in multiple studies of cases with established schizophrenia (Kopp and Rist, 1999;Alain et al, 2002;Bates et al, 2002;Mathalon et al, 2002;Kim et al, 2006;Morris et al, 2006Morris et al, , 2008Mathalon et al, 2009;Horan et al, 2011;Perez et al, 2011). While there is some evidence that the abnormality diminishes during treatment (Bates et al, 2004), recent studies report abnormal ERN in individuals exhibiting behaviour indicating risk of schizophrenia (Laurens et al, 2010) and in clinical high-risk individuals (Perez et al, 2011).…”

Verbal self-monitoring in individuals with schizotypal personality traits: An exploratory ERP study

“…The amplitude and latency of the components were retrieved from the following electrode sites: Fz, FCz and Cz (Kim et al, 2006). Fig.…”