40-Hz Auditory Steady-State Responses Characterize Circuit Dysfunctions and Predict Clinical Outcomes in Clinical High-Risk for Psychosis Participants: A Magnetoencephalography Study

Frauke Schultze-Lutter,Andrew I Gumley,Tineke Grent-‘T-Jong,Joachim Gross,Peter J Uhlhaas,Ruchika Gajwani,Stephen M Lawrie,Matthias Schwannauer,Rajeev Krishnadas

doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.03.018

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine whether 40-Hz auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) are impaired in participants at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and predict clinical outcomes. MethodsMagnetoencephalography data were collected during a 40-Hz ASSR paradigm for a group of 116 CHR-P participants, 33 patients with first-episode psychosis (15 antipsychotic-naïve), a psychosis risk–negative group (n = 38), and 49 healthy control subjects. Analysis of group differences of 40-Hz intertrial phase coherence and 40-Hz amplitude focused on right Heschl’s gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, hippocampus, and thalamus after establishing significant activations during 40-Hz ASSR stimulation. Linear regression and linear discriminant analyses were used to predict clinical outcomes in CHR-P participants, including transition to psychosis and persistence of attenuated psychotic symptoms (APSs). ResultsCHR-P participants and patients with first-episode psychosis were impaired in 40-Hz amplitude in the right thalamus and hippocampus. In addition, patients with first-episode psychosis were impaired in 40-Hz amplitude in the right Heschl’s gyrus, and CHR-P participants in 40-Hz intertrial phase coherence in the right Heschl’s gyrus. The 40-Hz ASSR deficits were pronounced in CHR-P participants who later transitioned to psychosis (n = 13) or showed persistent APSs (n = 34). Importantly, both APS persistence and transition to psychosis were predicted by 40-Hz ASSR impairments, with ASSR activity in the right hippocampus, superior temporal gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus correctly classifying 69.2% individuals with nonpersistent APSs and 73.5% individuals with persistent APSs (area under the curve = 0.842), and right thalamus 40-Hz activity correctly classifying 76.9% transitioned and 53.6% nontransitioned CHR-P participants (area under the curve = 0.695). ConclusionsOur data indicate that deficits in gamma-band entrainment in the primary auditory cortex and subcortical areas constitute a potential biomarker for predicting clinical outcomes in CHR-P participants.

Highlights

This study aimed to examine whether 40-Hz auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) are impaired in participants at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and predict clinical outcomes
The CHR-P group consisted of participants who met SPI-A criteria, participants with Comprehensive Assessment of AtRisk Mental States (CAARMS) criteria, and 55 participants who had a combination of SPI-A and CAARMS criteria (Table 3)
Robust evidence exists for impairments in 40-Hz ASSRs in patients with ScZ [14], which is consistent with evidence for alterations in neural circuits that are involved in the generation of gamma-band rhythms, such as PV1 interneurons [13,16] and NMDA receptors (NMDARs)-mediated neurotransmission [43]

Summary

Introduction

This study aimed to examine whether 40-Hz auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) are impaired in participants at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and predict clinical outcomes. RESULTS: CHR-P participants and patients with first-episode psychosis were impaired in 40-Hz amplitude in the right thalamus and hippocampus. Patients with first-episode psychosis were impaired in 40-Hz amplitude in the right Heschl’s gyrus, and CHR-P participants in 40-Hz intertrial phase coherence in the right Heschl’s gyrus. The 40-Hz ASSR deficits were pronounced in CHR-P participants who later transitioned to psychosis (n = 13) or showed persistent APSs (n = 34). Both APS persistence and transition to psychosis were predicted by 40-Hz ASSR impairments, with ASSR activity in the right hippocampus, superior temporal gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus correctly classifying 69.2% individuals with nonpersistent APSs and 73.5% individuals with persistent APSs (area under the curve = 0.842), and right thalamus 40-Hz activity correctly classifying 76.9% transitioned and 53.6% nontransitioned CHR-P participants (area under the curve = 0.695). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that deficits in gamma-band entrainment in the primary auditory cortex and subcortical areas constitute a potential biomarker for predicting clinical outcomes in CHR-P participants

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