Effects of auditory hallucinations on the mismatch negativity (MMN) in schizophrenia as measured by a modified 'optimal' multi-feature paradigm

The recently developed Optimal-3 multi-feature MMN paradigm, a shortened version of the 'optimal' multi-feature MMN paradigm, allows for the focused recording of the most widely reported MMN deviants (frequency, duration, intensity) within an efficient and time-saving paradigm. The objective of this study was to examine MMN acoustic change detection in schizophrenia (SZ), and elucidate its association with auditory verbal hallucinations (AH), using the Optimal-3. Methods: MMN to duration, frequency and intensity deviants were recorded in 12 SZ outpatients (SZs) with persistent AHs and 12 matched healthy controls (HC). Electrical activity was recorded from 32 scalp electrodes; MMN amplitudes and latencies for each deviant were compared between groups and were correlated with trait (PSYRATS) and state measures of AH severity and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) ratings in SZs. Results: SZs showed a significantly smaller duration MMN compared to HCs. Furthermore, in SZs attenuated duration MMN amplitudes were correlated with increased PSYRATS scores, as well as increased PANSS positive symptom, hallucination item and general psychoticism ratings, while attenuated intensity MMN amplitudes were correlated with increased PSYRATS scores. Conclusions: This is the first study to examine MMN in SZ within the modified (Optimal-3) multi-feature MMN paradigm. This study corroborates previous research reporting a robust duration MMN deficit in SZ and supports previous findings suggesting that AHs may contribute to MMN deficits in SZ. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.