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Biomarkers of auditory processing in schizophrenia: do they reflect symptom severity? An investigation in schizotypy

Award Number: R15MH122935
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Biomarkers of auditory processing are abnormal in schizophrenia, suggesting their potential for identifying individuals who are experiencing schizophrenia-like symptoms before the onset of psychosis. However, for these biomarkers to be effective, they would need to reflect symptom severity. There are some individuals in the general population who exhibit schizophrenia-like traits but do not experience psychosis, commonly known as schizotypy. The majority of the general population is believed to fall along a spectrum of schizotypic behaviors, with some being more symptomatic and who are referred to as having `high schizotypy'. The aim of this project is to test whether auditory biomarkers associated with schizophrenia are also present in individuals with high schizotypy, and how the different biomarkers relate to one another. If the auditory biomarkers are impacted in high schizotypy, then this would support their use for identifying those who are at- risk of developing schizophrenia. If not, then this suggests that individuals with schizophrenia are categorically different in their auditory processing to the general population, and indicates substantial brain-wide changes at the onset of psychosis. In the current study, we focus on biomarkers of early sensory memory (mismatch negativity; MMN) and later auditory working memory (WM) using electroencephalography (EEG) and behavioral psychophysics. We will also explore how sensory memory and WM impact one other, as a potential mechanism of auditory processing in schizotypy. This project is designed to introduce undergraduate researchers to clinical research. They will learn how to collect electrophysiological data, analysis techniques, and will be involved in disseminating the results. The project will be divided into three Aims. Aim 1 will measure MMN in the EEG to investigate early sensory memory to auditory deviants – single tones that differ in pitch. Aim 2 will investigate WM performance in a 3-back task using behavioral and EEG measures (such as N1 during stimulus encoding). We will investigate MMN and WM independently so that the results from Aim 1 do not impact Aim 2. For Aims 1 and 2, we hypothesize that both MMN and WM performance will be impaired in those with high compared to low schizotypy. Aim 3 will then examine the relationship between the two measures of auditory processing. We hypothesize that impaired MMN will predict poorer WM performance (examined using regression analyses), and this relationship will be stronger in high compared to low schizotypy. This will indicate a potential mechanism to target for treatment: improve early auditory memory to impact later auditory-related cognition. If there is no significant relationship between sensory memory and WM, then this will indicate a third variable that impacts auditory processing. Either result will contribute to a model of auditory processing in schizotypy. Undergraduate researchers will develop an understanding of the utility of biomarkers in psychiatry, and how basic science can be used to investigate the mechanisms underlying schizophrenia.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2023	2022	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	4/26/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
2023	2022	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	1	4/26/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
2023	2020	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	3/15/2023	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $35,362 )
2022	2022	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	5/13/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$17,681
2022	2022	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	5/16/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$17,681
														Subtotal = $35,362

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $389,011 )
2020	2020	NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1664 N VIRGINIA ST	RENO	NV	89557	WASHOE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	4/13/2020	NEW	$389,011
														Subtotal = $389,011

Grand Total All Awards = $424,373

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Biomarkers of auditory processing in schizophrenia: do they reflect symptom severity? An investigation in schizotypy

Award Number: R15MH122935

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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