Remediation of Schizophrenia Sensory Gating Deficit With Aripiprazole

Problems with attention and perception are core features of schizophrenia and are hypothesized to result from defects in the filtering or gating of sensory input. Examination of this requires neuroimaging techniques with high temporal resolution. High-density EEG and MEG in combination with structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) are used to map sensory gating. In a number of recent studies patient treated with novel antipsychotics have been shown to have P50 gating ratios resembling those of normal controls rather than that of schizophrenia subjects treatment with conventional antipsychotics. To date, there is no literature on the effects of aripiprzole on sensory gating. Subjects who meet all inclusion criteria will receive a clinical interview, an MRI, MEG, and neuropsychological testing before starting treatment with aripiprazole and again 3 months later to determine if patients with schizophrenia who are treated with aripiprazole will demonstrate a sensory gating ratio similar to normal controls, indicating no deficit in sensory gating