Early-Stage Visual Processing and Cortical Amplification Deficits in Schizophrenia

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Abstract
Patients with schizophrenia show severe neurophysiological deficits in brain information processing not only at cognitive levels1-4 but also at perceptual levels.5-8 Perceptual deficits have been particularly well-documented in the visual system9-21 and have been shown to predict community outcome.22,23 Further, the human visual system has been exquisitely characterized both functionally and anatomically,24-26 permitting detailed examination of the brain mechanisms underlying dysfunction. This study uses steady-state visual evoked potentials (ssVEPs), together with psychophysics, neuropsychological evaluation, and magnetic resonance imaging, to evaluate the basis of early-stage visual processing deficits in schizophrenia.