Altered gamma and theta oscillations during multistable perception in schizophrenia

Abstract

Objective: Coherent object perception in patients with schizophrenia is known to be impaired. Oscillatory brain dynamics constitute a fundamental mechanism for the coordinated communication of neural circuits. Such dynamics have been proposed to reflect impaired spatio-temporal integration of sensory and cognitive processes during object perception in schizophrenia.

Method: EEG recordings of patients with schizophrenia (n = 23) and control participants (n = 23) were examined. Presented were either an ambiguous (multistable) stimulus, endogenously inducing switching between two perceptual alternatives, or a slightly modified unambiguous control stimulus, during which perceptual reversals were triggered by a minor change in the stimulus configuration. Event-related amplitude modulation induced by perceptual reversals was analyzed for theta (3-8 Hz) and gamma band oscillations (28-48 Hz).

Results: Patients displayed increased reaction times and more errors when indicating unambiguous reversals. The patients´ amplitude enhancement of theta oscillations was diminished in both task conditions. During the control task were gamma amplitudes larger in patients than in healthy participants.

Conclusion: The results indicate that impairments in generating coherent percepts are reflected in alterations of multiple frequency bands and time windows. Changes in gamma band oscillations may reflect the patients' impairments in perceptuo-cognitive integration processes. Diminished theta amplitude modulation in patients further emphasize diminished top-down cognitive control during perceptual reversals.

Significance: This study provides insight into how theta and gamma oscillations underlie changes in object perception, and thereby possibly the generation of core symptoms, in schizophrenia. This paper is dedicated to Prof. Dr. Erol Başar, a pioneer in research on oscillatory braindynamics. He was tireless in his effort to understand brain functions and integratedphilosophy, physics, biology and psychology in his research. His vision on how informationis coded in brain networks inspired many researchers in the last 40 years. With him, we not only lose an exceptional researcher, but also a supportive academic teacher and mentor with a persistent, prolific enthusiasm for international and collaborative projects.

Keywords: Brain oscillations; Gamma; Multistable perception; Schizophrenia; Sensory-cognitive integration; Theta.