Backgrounds:

Gamma band oscillatory activity is considered to be related to cognitive functions and illustrates that the concept of event-related oscillations bridges the gap between single neurons and neural assemblies. An event-related gamma oscillation is the time-locked responses of specific frequency, and can be identified by computing the amplitude frequency characteristics of the averaged event-related potentials(ERPs) after stimulation.

Objectives:

We purposed to present experimental paradigm to investigate ${\gamma}$-band oscillation activities from the recording of ERPs by using auditory oddball paradigm and investigate the difference of ${\gamma}$-band activity between schizophrenia and normal controls.

Methods:

The ERPs resulting from auditory stimuli with oddball paradigm in a group of schizophrenics(n=11), and also a group of age-, sex-, and handedness matched normal controls, were recorded by 128 channel EEG. The ${\gamma}$-band oscillatory activities were calculated by using time-frequency wavelet decomposition of the signal between 20 and 80Hz. The ${\gamma}$-band oscillatory activities of both groups were compared by t-test.

Results:

The ${\gamma}$-band oscillatory of the leads Fz, Cz, and Pz of both groups were represented well in the time-frequency maps. Significant increases of the ${\gamma}$-band activity in normal controls compared with schizophrenics were observed around 160 msec, 350 msec, and 800 msec after stimulation.

Conclusions:

Our results suggested that the increment in ${\gamma}$-band oscillatory activity during cognitive operations and decreased ${\gamma}$-band activity in schizophrenics may be associated with the cognitive dysfunctions and the pathophysiology of the schizophrenia.