Event-related potentials induced by Stroop Color-Word Task in childhood schizophrenia patients

Abstract

Objective \nTo explore the character of N450 induced by Stroop Color-Word Task in childhood schizophrenia patients, and the implication for their poor executive function in deficit of conflict detection. \n \n \nMethods \nThe event-related potentials from 20 childhood schizophrenia patients and 20 healthy controls were recorded under a Stroop Color-Word Task. The behavior performance, amplitude of N450 induced by Stroop task, and its relationship between were analyzed. \n \n \nResults \n(1) Behavioral data: Both groups responded to inconsistent stimuli longer than consistent stimuli (F(1,38)=84.24, P 0.05). (2) ERPs results: Patients presented a reduced N450 lower than the healthy controls (F(1, 38)=7.81, P=0.008). There was also a significant interaction between the groups and among the hemispheres (left, midline, right) (F(2, 76)=3.43, P=0.038). (3) Correlation of behavior performance and ERPs: in patients, the behavioral Stroop effect(RTs incongruent-congruent) was positively correlated with the amplitude difference to incongruent-congruent at the Fz, FCz (r>0, P<0.05). The overall Stroop errors in patients correlated negatively with the amplitude difference to incongruent-congruent at Fz, FCz, FC4 (r<0, P<0.05). \n \n \nConclusion \nThe amplitude of N450 is lower in childhood schizophrenia patients, and it might be contributed by their abnormal conflict detection. \n \n \nKey words: \nSchizophrenia;\xa0Child;\xa0Evoked Potentials;\xa0Stroop effect