Neuroplasticity-based training may normalise auditory gating and improve verbal processing in schizophrenia
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1
University of Konstanz, Department of Psychology, Germany
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2
University of Konstanz, Germany
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3
University of California, United States
Abnormal sensory gating is a robust finding of processing abnormalities in schizophrenia. In the ‘paired-click’ design, the ratio of S2-evoked divided by the S1-evoked electrocortical P50-component is used as measure of sensory gating, with dampened S2-responses, thus, low ratio signalling effective sensory gating. In schizophrenia patients, unusually high sensory gating ratio (SGR) suggests impairment of sensory filtering, inhibitory functions or otherwise dysfunctional organisation of the auditory/verbal system as factor contributing to cognitive dysfunction and psychopathology. In the present magnetoencephalographic (MEG) paired-click design SGR served to study effects of computer-based cognitive exercises (CE, Posit Science, SF), which emphasize auditory discrimination and verbal memory, with the aim of improving signal-to-noise ratio of auditory/verbal processing. CE was compared to a nonspecific cognitive standard training (ST) control. Before and after training, M50 (MEG analogue of the EEG P50) across 100 paired-click trials was scored as peak amplitude of the magnetic field 40-80 ms post S-onset. SGR was determined in the source space as activity of two best-fitting equivalent current dipoles, one in each hemisphere. SRG was higher in 29 patients (F20.0 ICD-diagnoses) relative to 24 healthy matched controls (p< .01). Patients were randomly assigned to the two trainings, CE and ST. There was no difference in SGR between patient groups before training (F<1). SGR decreased in the course of CE (20 sessions within 4 weeks, p< .05). No such decrease was observed after the ST (p> .1; interaction, p< .01). Performance in verbal memory tasks improved more after CE than after the nonspecific training (p< .05), and SGR reduction after CE was significantly related to verbal memory improvement (r> .5, p< .05). There was no distinct effect of the trainings on measures of severity of disorder (BPRS, GAF), which improved across time (p<.01). Results confirm the feasibility of MEG-based SGR assessment and indicate the possibility of training-induced neural reorganization in schizophrenia with an impact on auditory / verbal processing. Reseach was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ro805/14).
Conference:
Biomag 2010 - 17th International Conference on Biomagnetism , Dubrovnik, Croatia, 28 Mar - 1 Apr, 2010.
Presentation Type:
Oral Presentation
Topic:
MEG: Clinical applications
Citation:
Rockstroh
B,
Popov
T,
Iordanov
T,
Elbert
T and
Merzenich
M
(2010). Neuroplasticity-based training may normalise auditory gating and improve verbal processing in schizophrenia.
Front. Neurosci.
Conference Abstract:
Biomag 2010 - 17th International Conference on Biomagnetism .
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.06.00274
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Received:
01 Apr 2010;
Published Online:
01 Apr 2010.
*
Correspondence:
Brigitte Rockstroh, University of Konstanz, Department of Psychology, Konstanz, Germany, brigitte.rockstroh@uni-konstanz.de