Frequency of the Alpha Activity Spectral Peak and Psychopathological Symptoms in Schizophrenia

Abstract

We report here studies on the frequency of the maximal alpha activity spectral peak at rest and its changes in cognitive loading in patients with schizophrenia as compared with healthy subjects. In patients with predominance of negative symptoms, the resting frequency of the alpha activity spectral alpha peak (8–13 Hz) was decreased compared with that in healthy subjects in all cortical areas. In patients with predominance of positive symptoms, the frequency of the peak was greater than in normal subjects in the occipital areas of the cortex. In cognitive loading, as compared with the resting state, all schizophrenia patients showed smaller increases in the frequency of the alpha activity peak than healthy subjects. A relationship was seen between the frequency of the alpha activity peak and the severity of psychopathological symptomatology in schizophrenia. These observations may indicate neurophysiological differences in the mechanisms of schizophrenia with predominance of negative and positive symptoms.