Neurophysiological markers of emotional stimuli processing in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder significantly affect the cognitive and emotional functioning of patients. Establishing reliable neurophysiological markers as objective assessment tools can increase diagnostic accuracy and improve outcomes.

AIM: To identify neurophysiological correlates of impaired facial expression perception in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and to develop a diagnostic model based on these markers.

METHODS: The study included 86 participants: 26 with schizophrenia, 26 with schizoaffective disorder, and 34 healthy volunteers. The study recorded electrical brain activity in response to stimuli with faces showing happy, fearful, and neutral expressions using a 128-channel electroencephalographic system. The P100, N170, P200, and P300 components were analyzed. Logistic regression and ROC analysis were used to develop a diagnostic model.

RESULTS: We developed a diagnostic model that differentiates patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder from healthy participants. The model achieved 73.3% sensitivity and 80% specificity.

CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate the diagnostic value of evoked potentials and support their application as a supplementary objective diagnostic tool.

About the authors

Valeriy A. Spektor

V. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Author for correspondence.
Email: spektor.v@serbsky.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3521-5453
SPIN-code: 9154-8092

Cand. Sci (Med.), Researcher, Department of Psychotic Spectrum Disorders

Russian Federation, Moscow

Elena V. Mnatsakanyan

Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: spektor.v@serbsky.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3407-1977
SPIN-code: 2627-4145

Cand. Sci (Biolog.), Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Human Higher Nervous Activity

Russian Federation, Moscow

Ekaterina D. Spektor

Email: spektor.v@serbsky.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0714-9476
SPIN-code: 1760-9113

Cand. Sci (Med.), independent investigator

Russian Federation

Alexey A. Trushin

V. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Email: spektor.v@serbsky.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0003-7064-4055
SPIN-code: 8508-4556

Cand. Sci (Med.), Junior Researcher, Department of Psychotic Spectrum Disorders

Russian Federation, Moscow

Anna S. Davydova

V. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Email: spektor.v@serbsky.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0002-3028-6241
SPIN-code: 1845-4071

Cand. Sci (Med.), Head of the Clinical Department

Russian Federation, Moscow

Alexander B. Shmukler

V. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Email: spektor.v@serbsky.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7187-9361
SPIN-code: 4932-7980

Dr. Sci (Med.), Professor, Deputy Director General for Research, Acting Director, Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry, a branch of the V. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Russian Federation, Moscow

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Copyright (c) 2025 Spektor V.A., Mnatsakanyan E.V., Spektor E.D., Trushin A.A., Davydova A.S., Shmukler A.B.

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