An association between reduced interhemispheric EEG coherence in the temporal lobe and genetic risk for schizophrenia

Previous studies have suggested that schizophrenic patients show resting changes such as frequency-slowing and decreased coherence in the frontal and temporal area. We sought to determine whether these findings are also found in clinically unaffected siblings of schizophrenics and estimate heritability by calculating relative risk. We investigated two independent data sets: (1) from the NIMH St. Elisabeth's campus (59 schizophrenics, 76 unaffected siblings and 32 unrelated normal controls) and (2) from the NIH-campus (Bethesda) (59 schizophrenics, 90 unaffected siblings and 26 unrelated normal controls). We computed power spectra and coherence on the first data set and then tried to replicate the results on the second data set. Power spectrum analysis suggested that schizophrenics are cortically hypoactivated, whereas in unaffected siblings, a tendency for hyperactivation was found. In contrast, spectral coherences (0.5-5Hz) were reduced in both data sets in the temporal lobe areas in schizophrenics and in their unaffected siblings. Changes were most pronounced for the interhemispheric coherence linking both posterior temporal lobe areas. Relative risk calculations (lambda(S)) ranged between 3.7 and 9.8, depending on phenotype definition. Thus, while power spectrum EEG abnormalities may be state-dependent, reduced coherence as a possible measure of neuronal synchronization is familial and potentially a heritable trait related to genetic risk for schizophrenia.