[Alpha activity in a group of schizophrenics: spectral analysis and comparison with a control group (author's...

Spectral analysis of tracings from four leads; C3-P3, P3-O1, C4-P4, and P4-O2, were used to compare the results of fiftyseven electroencephalograms from 10 schizophrenics, and 14 normal subjects used as controls. The results show that the mean frequencies of the alpha waves are identical in schizophrenics and controls. Patients with hebephrenia show the lowest variations in alpha wave frequency but with the highest voltage, whereas paranoid schizophrenics have tracings with the lowest amplitude and the greatest variation in frequency. There is also better left intrahemispheric correlation of relative alpha intensities in those patients with the lowest variation in right alpha intensity in relation to controls. The preliminary results suggest that there is a reduction in functional asymmetry of the hemispheres in the electroencephalograms from schizophrenics, when looking at the alpha activity.