Impaired neural response to reward feedback in children with high schizotypal traits: Evidences from an ERP study

Reward processing deficit is a core feature of schizophrenia, however, it remains unclear whether reward processing is impaired in individuals with high schizotypy. In this study, 27 high schizotypal trait and 25 control group children were screened by the Chinese version of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire for Children (SPQC). We recorded their brain activity (event-related potentials, ERPs) while they completed a simple gambling task. In the early semi-automatic processing stage, small losses s evoked a more negative feedback-related negativity (FRN) in the high schizotypy group than that in control group, and the large wins evoked a less positive reward positivity (RewP) in the high schizotypy group than that in the control group. In the later cognitive appraisal stage, the Feedback-P3 (Fb-P3) amplitude was smaller in the schizotypy group than in control group. These results provided evidence that the abnormalities of outcome evaluation exist in the schizotypy children. Pending replications and longitudinal studies, the FRN, RewP and the P3 might represent a psychophysiological marker of risk for schizophrenia.