Evidence-based biomarkers of visuospatial deficits in the brain
The following publications present ways our novel EEG paradigms and biomarkers have been used in clinical research to evaluate across Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia, and Autism indications.
Disruption of early visual processing in amyloid-positive healthy individuals and mild cognitive impairment
Amyloid deposition is a key predictor of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative disorders. Changes in the retina’s ganglion cell layer are linked to AD. The study examines EEG visual event-related potentials (vERP) as a measure of dysfunction in visual systems tied to the ganglion cell layer. Specifically, it assesses how amyloid deposition affects vERP in aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) populations. The research aims to clarify the connection between amyloid buildup and vERP changes, potentially aiding early AD detection and progression monitoring.
Javitt DC, Martinez A, Sehatpour P, Beloborodova A, Habeck C, Gazes Y, Bermudez D, Razlighi QR, Devanand DP, Stern Y. Disruption of early visual processing in amyloid-positive healthy individuals and mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2023 Feb 28;15(1):42. doi: 10.1186/s13195-023-01189-7. PMID: 36855162; PMCID: PMC9972790.
Differential patterns of visual sensory alteration underlying face emotion recognition impairment and motion perception deficits in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders
Schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) share face-emotion recognition and motion processing deficits. SZ shows reduced brain activation and lower EEG power in motion-sensitivity regions, while ASD features dorsal stream hyperactivation and increased theta power. Both groups exhibit abnormal alpha-band modulation in the pulvinar, predicting clinical symptoms. These distinct profiles suggest potential treatments for regulating visual processing in SZ and ASD.
Martínez A, Tobe R, Dias EC, Ardekani BA, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Patel G, Breland M, Lieval A, Silipo G, Javitt DC. Differential Patterns of Visual Sensory Alteration Underlying Face Emotion Recognition Impairment and Motion Perception Deficits in Schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2019 Oct 1;86(7):557-567. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.05.016. Epub 2019 May 29. PMID: 31301757; PMCID: PMC7197738.
Roadmap for development of neuro-oscillations as translational biomarkers for treatment development in neuropsychopharmacology
Developing treatments for psychiatric disorders relies on physiological measures that bridge the gap between animal models and human studies. Traditional EEG event-related potentials (ERPs) vary significantly across species. Neuro-oscillatory responses, analyzed in the time-frequency domain, offer more consistent comparisons and insights into local circuit mechanisms. This paper outlines a roadmap for using neuro-oscillatory responses as translational biomarkers in the development of neuropsychiatric treatments, improving translation from animal models to clinical studies.
Javitt DC, Siegel SJ, Spencer KM, Mathalon DH, Hong LE, Martinez A, Ehlers CL, Abbas AI, Teichert T, Lakatos P, Womelsdorf T. A roadmap for development of neuro-oscillations as translational biomarkers for treatment development in neuropsychopharmacology. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2020 Aug;45(9):1411-1422. doi: 10.1038/s41386-020-0697-9. Epub 2020 May 6. PMID: 32375159; PMCID: PMC7360555.
Impaired motion processing in schizophrenia and the attenuated psychosis syndrome: etiological and clinical implications
This study explores motion perception deficits in schizophrenia and clinical high-risk (attenuated psychosis) patients, revealing impairments linked to face-emotion recognition and cognitive function. Unlike motion, sensory responses are preserved in attenuated psychosis. In schizophrenia, motion deficits are associated with impaired motion-sensitive visual cortex activity. These findings use EEG to underscore sensory-level visual dysfunction’s role in schizophrenia, potentially preceding illness onset and affecting clinical high-risk patients.
Martínez A, Gaspar PA, Hillyard SA, Andersen SK, Lopez-Calderon J, Corcoran CM, Javitt DC. Impaired Motion Processing in Schizophrenia and the Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome: Etiological and Clinical Implications. Am J Psychiatry. 2018 Dec 1;175(12):1243-1254. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18010072. Epub 2018 Oct 3. PMID: 30278791; PMCID: PMC6408222.
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