Trajectories of Mismatch Negativity and P3a Amplitude Development From Ages 9 to 16 Years in Children With Risk Factors for Schizophrenia

Kristin R Laurens; Jennifer Murphy; Hannah Dickson; Ruth E Roberts; Tiffany P Gutteridge

doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2020.07.012

Trajectories of Mismatch Negativity and P3a Amplitude Development From Ages 9 to 16 Years in Children With Risk Factors for Schizophrenia

Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2020 Dec;5(12):1085-1094. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2020.07.012. Epub 2020 Jul 25.

Authors

Kristin R Laurens¹, Jennifer Murphy², Hannah Dickson³, Ruth E Roberts⁴, Tiffany P Gutteridge⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: kristin.laurens@qut.edu.au.
² School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Imperial Clinical Trials Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
³ Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
⁴ Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Kantor Centre of Excellence, Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London, United Kingdom.
⁵ School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

PMID: 32981879
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2020.07.012

Abstract

Background: Mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a amplitude reductions are robust abnormalities of sensory information processing in schizophrenia, but they are variably present in different profiles of risk (family history vs. clinical high risk) for the disorder. This study aimed to determine whether these abnormalities characterize children presenting replicated risk factors for schizophrenia, using longitudinal assessment over the ages of 9-16 years in children with multiple replicated antecedents of schizophrenia (ASz) and with family history of schizophrenia (FHx), relative to typically developing (TD) peers.

Methods: A total of 105 children (52 female) sampled from the community were assessed at ages 9-12 years and approximately 2 and 4 years later. Linear mixed models were fitted to MMN and P3a peak amplitudes and latencies, with intercept and slope estimates from 32 ASz and 28 FHx children compared with those of 45 TD peers.

Results: In ASz relative to TD children, MMN amplitude initially increased and then prominently decreased during adolescence. Both ASz and FHx children had greater P3a amplitude than TD children at 11 years, which decreased with age, in contrast to P3a amplitude increasing during adolescence in TD youths. MMN abnormalities were specific to ASz children who continued to present symptoms during follow-up.

Conclusions: Age-dependent MMN and P3a abnormalities demarcate adolescent development of ASz and FHx from TD children, with auditory change detection abnormalities specific to ASz children with continuing symptoms and attention-orienting abnormalities characterizing both ASz and FHx risk profiles. Follow-up is required to determine whether these abnormalities index vulnerability for schizophrenia or an illness nonspecific developmental delay.

Keywords: Event-related potentials; Genetic high risk; Longitudinal analysis; Mismatch negativity (MMN); Psychotic-like experiences; Sensory information processing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Development
Attention
Child
Cognition
Female
Humans
Risk Factors
Schizophrenia*