Intact neural activity during a Go/No-go task is associated with high global functioning in schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Go/No-go derived event-related potential (ERP) signals have been widely used in schizophrenia research to monitor self-control deficits in this disorder. However, no study to date has associated Go/No-go-related ERP with global functioning. METHODS: Participants consisted of 21 patients with schizophrenia and 22 healthy controls. We used a visual Go/No-go paradigm to measure Go/No-go-related N2/P3 ERP components by means of a 64-electrode cap for electroencephalogram recording. We used the Global Assessment of Functioning to evaluate global functioning and analyzed the correlation between ERP indices and global functioning scores. RESULTS: N2 amplitudes were reduced in patients with schizophrenia, but not influenced by either of the Go/No-go conditions. P3 amplitudes were influenced by the Go/No-go conditions, but not reduced in patients with schizophrenia. Global functioning was correlated with the No-go P3 amplitudes, but not N2 amplitudes, in patients with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that global functioning is associated with intact neural activity rather than impaired neural activity during Go/No-go response inhibition tasks in patients with schizophrenia.