Thalamic Dysfunction in Schizophrenia Suggested by Whole-Night Deficits in Slow and Fast Spindles.
Summary of "Thalamic Dysfunction in Schizophrenia Suggested by Whole-Night Deficits in Slow and Fast Spindles."
Objective: Slow waves and sleep spindles are the two main oscillations occurring during non-REM sleep. While slow oscillations are primarily generated and modulated by the cortex, sleep spindles are initiated by the thalamic reticular nucleus and regulated by thalamo-reticular and thalamo-cortical circuits. In a recent high-density EEG study, the authors found that 18 medicated schizophrenia patients had reduced sleep spindles, compared with healthy and depressed subjects, during the first non-REM episode. In the present study, the authors investigated whether spindle deficits were present in a larger sample of schizophrenia patients, were consistent across the night, were related to antipsychotic medications, and were suggestive of impairments in specific neuronal circuits. Method: Whole-night high-density EEG recordings were performed in 49 schizophrenia patients, 20 nonschizophrenia patients receiving antipsychotic medication, and 44 healthy subjects. In addition to sleep spindles, several parameters of slow waves were assessed. Results: Schizophrenia patients had whole-night deficits in spindle power (12-16 Hz) and in slow (12-14 Hz) and fast (14-16 Hz) spindle amplitude, duration, number, and integrated activity in the prefrontal, centroparietal, and temporal regions. Integrated spindle activity and spindle number had the largest effect sizes (effect size: ≥2.21). In contrast, no slow wave deficits were found in schizophrenia patients. Conclusions: These results indicate that spindle deficits can be reliably established in schizophrenia, are stable across the night, are unlikely to be due to antipsychotic medications, and point to deficits in the thalamic reticular nucleus and thalamo-reticular circuits.
Affiliation
School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc.; the Department of Psychiatry, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome; and the Department of Psychiatry, Catholic University, Largo F. Vito, Rom
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: The American journal of psychiatry
ISSN: 1535-7228
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20843876
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.09121731
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Nicergoline
An ergot derivative that has been used as a cerebral vasodilator and in peripheral vascular disease. It has been suggested to ameliorate cognitive deficits in cerebrovascular disease.
Mediodorsal Thalamic Nucleus
The largest of the medial nuclei of the thalamus. It makes extensive connections with most of the other thalamic nuclei.
Night Blindness
Failure or imperfection of vision at night or in dim light, with good vision only on bright days. (Dorland, 27th ed)
Aotus Trivirgatus
A species in the family AOTIDAE, inhabiting the forested regions of Central and South America (from Panama to the Amazon). Vocalizations occur primarily at night when they are active, thus they are also known as Northern night monkeys.
Night Care
Institutional night care of patients.
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