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Mismatch negativity, social cognition, and functioning in schizophrenia patients
Jonathan K Wynn1, Catherine Sugar, William P Horan
1Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA. jkwynn@ucla.edu
Biological Psychiatry
|January 16, 2010
Summary
Mismatch negativity (MMN) brain activity in schizophrenia patients is linked to better work and independent living skills. This early auditory processing measure also correlates with improved social perception in these individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Cognition and social cognition significantly impact functional outcomes in schizophrenia.
- Neural substrates linking social cognition and daily functioning remain underexplored.
- Prior research indicated a correlation between mismatch negativity (MMN) and schizophrenia patient functioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between MMN, social cognition, and functional domains in schizophrenia.
- To compare MMN, social cognition, and functioning in schizophrenia patients versus healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Examined MMN, social perception, theory of mind, and functioning (work, independent living, social, family networks).
- Studied 33 schizophrenia patients and 42 demographically matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia patients showed reduced frontocentral MMN activity compared to controls.
- Within the schizophrenia group, enhanced frontocentral MMN correlated with better work and independent living.
- Greater MMN activity also associated with improved social perception in schizophrenia patients.
Conclusions:
- MMN activity is more strongly associated with work and independent living than social or family networks in schizophrenia.
- This study provides novel evidence linking MMN to social cognition in schizophrenia.
- Findings support cascade models where early perceptual deficits impact social cognition and community functioning.
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