Original article

Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research 2006;9(1):21-25.

정신분열병 환자의 정량화 뇌파 이상

Seung-Hwan Lee, MD, PhD and Hyung-Tae Jung, MD

Abstract

Objectives:Increased slow frequency (Delta and theta) power of frontal lobe has been thought as one of the distinguished characteristics of schizophrenia pathology. This study was designed to investigate the pathology of schizophrenia using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) and low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) source imaging.
Methods:26 schizophrenia patients and 37 normal controls subjects were recruited in this study. Spectral analysis of the qEEG and source imaging of frequency bands of artifact-free 30s epochs were examined during rest.
Results:We could not find any delta wave differences between schizophrenia and normal control. But schizophrenia patients showed significantly increased beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3 frequency amplitude compared with those of normal control. Source imaging revealed significantly increased beta (1, 2 and 3) activity in the left superior frontal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus and the left postcentral gyrus each in schizophrenia patients versus normal controls.
Conclusion:These results imply that schizophrenia patients have increased beta frequency oscillations in frontal and parietal cortex. We discussed about limitations of this study and suggested the future directions of research in this field. (Korean J Schizophr Res 2006;9:21-25)

Key Words: EEG,Delta frequency,Beta frequency,Schizophrenia,Hypofrontality,LORETA