Abnormal P300 Responses in Schizophrenic Children

Abstract

The auditory information processing abilities of psychotic children were examined using an “oddball” P300 protocol. Event related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from nine children (age range 10-13 years) diagnosed as having schizophrenia or schizotypal personality disorder, nine age-matched normal children, and nine younger normal children (age range 6-8 years). In all three groups, a positive ERP component in the 300-400-msec range was obtained. Statistical analyses of the ERPs indicated that this component differed across task conditions in both groups of normal children but not in the group of psychotic children.