Event related potential studies and findings: Schizophrenia as a disorder of cognition

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that is characterized by a wide range of cognitive impairments and a constellation of symptoms. With the advent of event related potential (ERP) methodology, it has become possible to track neurocognitive events in real time, and to investigate impairments in a wide range of cognitive functions in schizophrenia. The current chapter critically reviews ERP findings across several paradigms that have been used to probe neurophysiological processes associated with two major views of schizophrenia pathology: schizophrenia as a disorder of sensory processes, and schizophrenia as a disorder of higher order cognition. In this chapter we review papers published between 2000 and 2018 and make only historical references to research conducted prior to these dates. The aim is to present the current state of research on neurophysiological underpinnings of schizophrenia that uses ERPs as a research tool and to point to major present and future trends within this field.