Background

Abnormal 40 Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR) has been observed in some psychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, the role of 40 Hz ASSR in persistent auditory verbal hallucinations (pAVHs) schizophrenia (SCZ) is still unknown. This study aims to investigate whether the 40 Hz ASSR impairment is related to pAVHs and can detect pAVHs severity.

Methods

We analyzed high-density electroencephalography data that from 43 pAVHs patients (pAVH group), 20 moderate auditory verbal hallucinations patients (mid-AVH group), and 24 without auditory verbal hallucinations patients (non-AVH group). Event-related spectral perturbation and inter-trial phase coherence (ITPC) were calculated to quantify dynamic changes of the 40 Hz ASSR power and ITPC, respectively.

Results

Frontal-central, the 40 Hz ASSR power, and ITPC were significantly lower in the pAVH group than in the non-AVH group; There was no significant difference between the pAVH and mid-AVH group. The 40 Hz ASSR was significantly negatively correlated with the severity of pAVHs. The 40 Hz ASSR power, and ITPC could be used as a combinational marker to detect SCZ patients with and without pAVHs.

Conclusion

Our findings have shed light on the pathological mechanism of pAVHs in SCZ patients. These results can provide potential avenues for therapeutic intervention of pAVHs.

中文翻译：

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40 Hz 听觉稳态反应缺陷与精神分裂症患者持续性幻听的严重程度相关

背景

在某些精神疾病中观察到异常的 40 Hz 听觉稳态反应 (ASSR)。然而，40 Hz ASSR 在持续性幻听 (pAVH) 精神分裂症 (SCZ) 中的作用仍不清楚。本研究旨在探讨 40 Hz ASSR 损伤是否与 pAVH 相关，并可以检测 pAVH 的严重程度。

方法

我们分析了 43 名 pAVH 患者（pAVH 组）、20 名中度幻听患者（中度 AVH 组）和 24 名无幻听患者（非 AVH 组）的高密度脑电图数据。计算与事件相关的频谱扰动和试验间相位相干性 (ITPC)，以分别量化 40 Hz ASSR 功率和 ITPC 的动态变化。

结果

pAVH 组的额中央、40 Hz ASSR 功率和 ITPC 显着低于非 AVH 组；pAVH 组和中期 AVH 组之间没有显着差异。40 Hz ASSR 与 pAVH 的严重程度显着负相关。40 Hz ASSR 功率和 ITPC 可用作组合标记来检测有或没有 pAVH 的 SCZ 患者。

结论

我们的研究结果揭示了 SCZ 患者 pAVH 的病理机制。这些结果可以为 pAVH 的治疗干预提供潜在途径。