Early Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Patients Display Reduced Neural Prepulse Inhibition

Author(s)

San-Martin, Rodrigo ^[1] ; Zimiani, Maria Ines ^[1] ; de Avila, Milton Augusto Vendramini ^[2] ; Shuhama, Rosana ^{[2, 3]} ; Del-Ben, Cristina Marta ^{[2, 3]} ; Menezes, Paulo Rossi ^{[4, 3]} ; Fraga, Francisco Jose ^[5] ; Salum, Cristiane ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Matemat Comp & Cognicao, BR-09606045 Sao Bernardo Do Campo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, BR-14040900 Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Populat Mental Hlth Res Ctr, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Prevent Med, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Engn Modelagem & Ciencias Sociais Aplicadas, BR-09210580 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BRAIN SCIENCES; v. 12, n. 1 JAN 2022.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background: Altered sensorimotor gating has been demonstrated by Prepulse Inhibition (PPI) tests in patients with psychosis. Recent advances in signal processing methods allow assessment of neural PPI through electroencephalogram (EEG) recording during acoustic startle response measures (classic muscular PPI). Simultaneous measurements of muscular (eye-blink) and neural gating phenomena during PPI test may help to better understand sensorial processing dysfunctions in psychosis. In this study, we aimed to assess simultaneously muscular and neural PPI in early bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients. Method: Participants were recruited from a population-based case-control study of first episode psychosis. PPI was measured using electromyography (EMG) and EEG in pulse alone and prepulse + pulse with intervals of 30, 60, and 120 ms in early bipolar disorder (n = 18) and schizophrenia (n = 11) patients. As control group, 15 socio-economically matched healthy subjects were recruited. All subjects were evaluated with Rating Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Young Mania Rating Scale questionnaires at recruitment and just before PPI test. Wilcoxon ranked sum tests were used to compare PPI test results between groups. Results: In comparison to healthy participants, neural PPI was significantly reduced in PPI 30 and PPI60 among bipolar and schizophrenia patients, while muscular PPI was reduced in PPI60 and PPI120 intervals only among patients with schizophrenia. Conclusion: The combination of muscular and neural PPI evaluations suggested distinct impairment patterns among schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients. Simultaneous recording may contribute with novel information in sensory gating investigations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/05178-0 - Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders: social and biological determinants
• Grantee: Paulo Rossi Menezes
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/11167-3 - Gene-environment interactions in Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
• Grantee: Rosana Shuhama
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral