ABSTRACT
Objective To explore schizophrenic′s executive function and characteristics of event-related potential-P300 (ERP-P300) in a Go/Nogo paradigm in order to provide electrophysiological basis for schizophrenic′s executive function. Methods The Wisconsin card Sorting Tests (WCST) were conducted and ERP-P300s in a Go/Nogo paradigm (Go/NogoERP-P300) were determined in 58 schizophrenics and 30 healthy persons. Results The WCST score was poorer in research group than that in control group. ERP amplitudes lowered and latencies prolonged in Go-P3 and Nogo N2 and P3, and all differences had statistical significances (P < 0.05). But there were no differences in N1 of both tasks and Go-N2; Go-P3, Nogo-N2 and -P3 amplitude and latency were related to the WCST well (P < 0.05). Conclusion Schizophrenics have such lowered executive functions as attention and cognition conversion and reactive inhibition and could normally process task prophase merely , and Go/NogoERP-P300 may be one of electrophysiological methods reflecting schizophrenic′s executive function.