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Reduced readiness potential and post-movement beta synchronization reflect self-disorders in early course schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT: Disturbances of conscious awareness, or self-disorders, are a defining feature of schizophrenia. These include symptoms such as delusions of control, i.e. the belief that one's actions are controlled by an external agent. Models of self-disorders point at altered neural mechanisms of source monitoring, i.e. the ability of the brain to discriminate self-generated stimuli from those driven by the environment. However, evidence supporting this putative relationship is currently lacking. We performed electroencephalography (EEG) during self-paced, brisk right fist closures in ten (M = 9; F = 1) patients with Early-Course Schizophrenia (ECSCZ) and age and gender-matched healthy volunteers. We measured the Readiness Potential (RP), i.e. an EEG feature preceding self-generated movements, and movement-related EEG spectral changes. Self-disorders in ECSCZ were assessed with the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE). Patients showed a markedly reduced RP and altered post-movement Event-Related Synchronization (ERS) in the beta frequency band (14-24 Hz) compared to healthy controls. Importantly, smaller RP and weaker ERS were associated with higher EASE scores in ECSCZ. Our data suggest that disturbances of neural correlates preceding and following self-initiated movements may reflect the severity of self-disorders in patients suffering from ECSCZ. These findings point towards deficits in basic mechanisms of sensorimotor integration as a substrate for self-disorders.

SUBMITTER: Donati FL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8298598 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Reduced readiness potential and post-movement beta synchronization reflect self-disorders in early course schizophrenia.

Donati Francesco Luciano FL Fecchio Matteo M Maestri Davide D Cornali Mattia M Derchi Chiara Camilla CC Casetta Cecilia C Zalaffi Maristella M Sinigaglia Corrado C Sarasso Simone S D'Agostino Armando A

Scientific reports 20210722 1

Disturbances of conscious awareness, or self-disorders, are a defining feature of schizophrenia. These include symptoms such as delusions of control, i.e. the belief that one's actions are controlled by an external agent. Models of self-disorders point at altered neural mechanisms of source monitoring, i.e. the ability of the brain to discriminate self-generated stimuli from those driven by the environment. However, evidence supporting this putative relationship is currently lacking. We performe ...[more]

PMID: 34294767

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Project description:For years, phenomenological psychiatry has proposed that distortions of the temporal structure of consciousness contribute to the abnormal experiences described before schizophrenia emerges, and may relate to basic disturbances in consciousness of the self. However, considering that temporality refers mainly to an implicit aspect of our relationship with the world, disturbances in the temporal structure of consciousness remain difficult to access. Nonetheless, previous studies have shown a correlation between self disorders and the automatic ability to expect an event in time, suggesting timing is a key issue for the psychopathology of schizophrenia. Timing disorders may represent a target for cognitive remediation, but this requires that disorders can be demonstrated at an individual level. Since cognitive impairments in patients with schizophrenia are discrete, and there is no standardized timing exploration, we focused on timing impairments suggested to be related to self disorders. We present the case report of AF, a 22 year old man suffering from schizophrenia, with no antipsychotic intake. Although AF shows few positive and negative symptoms and has a normal neurocognitive assessment, he shows a high level of disturbance of Minimal Self Disorders (SDs) (assessed with the EASE scale). Moreover, AF has a rare ability to describe his self and time difficulties. An objective assessment of timing ability (variable foreperiod task) confirmed that AF had temporal impairments similar to those previously described in patients, i.e., a preserved ability to distinguish time intervals, but a difficulty to benefit from the passage of time to expect a visual stimulus. He presents additional difficulties in benefitting from temporal cues and adapting to changes in time delays. The impairments were ample enough to yield significant effects with analyses at the individual level. Although causal relationships between subjective and objective impairments cannot be established, the results show that exploring timing deficits at the individual level is possible in patients with schizophrenia. Besides, the results are consistent with hypotheses relating minimal self disorders (SDs) to timing difficulties. They suggest that both subjective and objective timing investigations should be developed further so that their use at an individual level can be generalized in clinical practice.

Project description:ObjectiveThis proof-of-concept feasibility trial examined the potential of the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance Approach (CO-OP) to augment deep brain stimulation (DBS) outcomes in childhood-onset hyperkinetic movement disorders (HMD) including dystonia and dyskinetic cerebral palsy.MethodsThis is a single case experimental design using multiple baseline as n-of-1 trial comprising 10 intervention sessions, with replications across participants (n = 10). Treatment focused on 3 participant-selected goals. Transfer was assessed on 2 additional untreated goals. Individuals enrolled were 6-21 years of age and had DBS in situ and sufficient manual ability. Primary outcome was functional performance change on the Performance Quality Rating Scale-Individualized (PQRS-i) measured before, during, and posttreatment, and at 3-month follow-up. Assessors of outcome were blinded to time of assessment, number of intervention session, and treatment allocation. To measure effect size, a nonoverlapping index, Tau-U, was used. Feasibility measures were captured.ResultsOne participant withdrew before baseline assessment. Effect sizes of at least 0.66 were seen at both posttreatment and follow-up with all participants showing improvements in at least one trained goal in PQRS-i. Six participants improved on all 3 goals and 2 improved on 2 trained goals. Two children showed deterioration in one trained goal each. Transfer to untrained goals was observed in 3 participants for a total of 5 goals. CO-OP was feasible and acceptable to all participants.ConclusionA cognitive-based, task-oriented approach to support performance of personally relevant functional skills enabling participation is acceptable in childhood-onset HMD post-DBS. Further, preliminary efficacy to improve outcomes and proof of concept with CO-OP has been established in this population.Classification of evidenceThis study provides Class IV evidence that for children with HMD who had undergone DBS, CO-OP improves performance of personally relevant functional skills.

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Reduced readiness potential and post-movement beta synchronization reflect self-disorders in early course schizophrenia.

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Reduced readiness potential and post-movement beta synchronization reflect self-disorders in early course schizophrenia.

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