The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.131.8.892

Computerized EEG and evoked auditory potential investigations demonstrated that the patterns of a group of children at high risk for schizophrenia (children of schizophrenic parents) had statistically significant differences when compared with those of a matched control group of children. High-risk children were characterized by the presence of high-frequency beta activity, fewer fast alpha waves, and more very slow low-voltage delta activity in computerized EEG as well as by shorter latencies in auditory evoked potential. These neurophysiological characteristics of high-risk children showed striking similarities to computerized EEG and evoked potential findings in psychotic children and schizophrenic adults, suggesting that this pattern may be the neurophysiological measurement of schizophrenia. These findings support some of the most recent biochemical hypotheses in schizophrenia and, if confirmed by further work, suggest new means in the preventive treatment of this illness.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.