Long-range gamma phase synchronization as a compensatory strategy during working memory in high-performing patients with schizophrenia

ABSTRACTWorking memory deficits in schizophrenia may be associated with impairments in the integration of neural activity across a distributed network of cortical areas. However, evaluation of the contribution of this integration to working memory impairments in patients is severely confounded by behavioral performance. In the present multidimensional-neuroimaging study, measures of neural oscillations at baseline and during a working memory task, baseline gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) level in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and behavioral performance were obtained. Controlling behavioral performance by recruiting only “high-performing” patients with schizophrenia, we investigated whether the strength of cross-area communications differs between patients with schizophrenia and healthy participants under accurate and equivalent behavioral performance. Results of phase-locking value indicated that these high-performing patients recruited significantly more between frontal and occipital re...