Impaired Autonomic Nervous System Habituation in Those at Genetic Risk for Schizophrenia
J. Meggin Hollister, MA;
Sarnoff A. Mednick, PhD, DrMed;
Patricia Brennan, PhD;
Tyrone D. Cannon, PhD
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994;51(7):552-558.
Abstract
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Background
Schizophrenia has been associated with habituation of skin conductance activity. Skin conductance data from the Copenhagen High Risk Project were analyzed. We hypothesized that genetic risk for schizophrenia and development of schizophrenia later in life are related to impaired habituation of autonomic nervous system activity.
Methods
Data were collected in 1962, when subjects averaged 15 years of age and had not yet qualified for a psychiatric diagnosis. Nonspecific fluctuations in electrodermal activity were monitored during a rest period free of sensory stimulation.
Results
We found that an increasing level of genetic risk for schizophrenia was related to impaired habituation of autonomic nervous system activity over time. Individuals with two schizophrenia-spectrum parents evidenced no habituation, those with one spectrum parent evidenced some habituation, and those with normal parents evidenced rapid habituation. Subjects who developed schizophrenia in adulthood evidenced significant deficits in habituation in adolescence.
Conclusions
These results suggest that impaired habituation of spontaneous autonomic nervous system activity may represent a behavioral marker of the genetic predisposition to schizophrenia.
Author Affiliations
From the Social science Research Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (Ms Hollister and Drs Mednick and Brennan); and Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Dr Cannon).
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