Middle latency components of evoked potential responses in schizophrenics

Abstract

Middle latency components (PlOO-PI, Nl40-N 1, and P200-P2) of evoked potentials in schizophrenia are generally reported to show attenuation compared with those of normal controls (Buchsbaum 1977). These components have been considered to be related to selective attention and its maintenance (Schwent et al. 1976). Pfefferbaum et al. ( 1980), on the other hand, reported that schizophrenics had larger auditory components co~esponding to PI and P2 (only P2 was statistically significant; Pl showed a trend in a small sample), whereas corresponding Nl was significantly reduced in amplitude compared with that of the controls. The aims of the present study were to elicit further evidence with respect to the latency and amplitude measures of middle components and the pattern of habituation over repeated presentation of flashes and tones in schizophrenics.