Patients with schizophrenia have increased resting-state gamma-band connectivity in a distinct region of the brain, and the increases correlate with clinical symptoms, research shows.
This is contrary to studies of task-based brain activity, in which schizophrenia patients had reduced connectivity, “suggesting that resting-state studies might reveal new aspects in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia”, say lead study author Christina Andreou (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany) and colleagues.
The team recorded resting-state brain activity, using electroencephalography (with eyes closed), in 22 patients with first-episode schizophrenia, most of whom were taking antipsychotic medication.