Quantitative EEG of Frontal and Central Cortices During Calm Memory Retrieval in Schizophrenia
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Background: Cognitive and emotional dysregulation in schizophrenia is frequently associated with altered neural oscillatory patterns. Frontal theta activity, in particular, has been linked to working memory and internalized calmness. This study investigated theta dynamics using quantitative EEG (QEEG) during a memory-related calmness task to identify brain regions involved in cognitive-emotional processing. Methods: Thirty individuals with schizophrenia (mean age = 38.9 ± 7.15 years) completed a structured memory recall task embedded in the Brain Mapping Performance (BMP) protocol. QEEG signals were recorded from 12 scalp locations, with analyses focused on theta relative power at key frontal and central sites (Fp1, Fz, F4, F7, Cz, T3). Behavioral performance (memory accuracy, task duration) and self-reported calmness were also measured. Repeated measures ANOVA assessed effects of condition (calm, rest, task), time, and their interaction. Results: Theta relative power significantly increased during memory recall at frontal-midline and central electrodes. Statistically significant effects were observed for Condition [F(1.185, 26.077) = 105.844, p < .001], Time [F(1.412, 31.073) = 119.687, p < .001], and the Condition × Time interaction [F(1.308, 1.357) = 125.381, p < .001]. Memory accuracy declined under EEG monitoring (41.43 ± 21.47%) compared to baseline (47.71 ± 27.20%), while task completion time increased (874.22 ± 331.82 s vs. 738.35 ± 191.11 s, p = .017), indicating elevated cognitive demands. Conclusion: Frontal and central theta activity reflects cognitive engagement during calm memory tasks in schizophrenia. BMP may offer a valuable behavioral-neurophysiological interface for individualized assessment and cognitive rehabilitation in psychiatric care.