Sensory attenuation (SA), the dampened perception of self-generated sensory information, is typically associated with reduced event-related potential signals, such as for the N1 component of auditory event-related potentials. SA, together with efficient monitoring of intentions and actions, should facilitate the distinction between self-generated and externally generated sensory events, thereby optimizing interaction with the world. According to many, SA is deficient in schizophrenia. The question arises whether altered SA reflects a sufficient mechanism to explain positive symptoms such as auditory hallucinations. A systematic association of reduced auditory SA in hallucinating patients would support this hypothesis. We conducted a series of meta-analyses on 15 studies on auditory SA in which the N1 component of event-related potential–electroencephalogram signals was measured during talking (self-generated sensory signals condition) or when listening to prerecorded vocalizations (externally generated sensory signals condition). We found that individuals with schizophrenia did show some auditory SA because their N1 signal was significantly attenuated in talking conditions compared with listening conditions. However, the magnitude of such attenuation was reduced in individuals with schizophrenia compared to healthy control participants. This phenomenon generalizes independently from the stage of the disease, the severity of positive symptoms, and whether patients have auditory hallucinations or not. These findings suggest that reduced SA cannot be a sufficient mechanism for explaining positive symptoms such as auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. Because reduced SA was also present in participants at risk of schizophrenia, reduced SA may represent a risk factor for the disorder. We discuss the implications of these results for clinical-cognitive models of schizophrenia.

中文翻译：

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精神分裂症的感觉衰减缺陷和幻听：因果机制还是危险因素？ N1 事件相关电位成分的荟萃分析证据

感觉衰减 (SA)，即自身产生的感觉信息的感知减弱，通常与事件相关电位信号的减少相关，例如听觉事件相关电位的 N1 分量。 SA 与对意图和行动的有效监控一起，应该有助于区分自身产生的和外部产生的感官事件，从而优化与世界的互动。许多人认为，精神分裂症缺乏SA。问题在于，SA 的改变是否反映了解释幻听等阳性症状的充分机制。幻觉患者听觉 SA 减少的系统关联将支持这一假设。我们对 15 项听觉 SA 的研究进行了一系列荟萃分析，其中事件相关电位脑电图信号的 N1 分量是在说话（自身生成的感觉信号条件）或聆听预先录制的发声（外部生成的感觉信号）时测量的。健康）状况）。我们发现精神分裂症患者确实表现出一些听觉 SA，因为与聆听条件相比，他们的 N1 信号在说话条件下显着衰减。然而，与健康对照参与者相比，精神分裂症患者的这种衰减程度有所降低。这种现象的普遍性与疾病的阶段、阳性症状的严重程度以及患者是否有幻听无关。这些发现表明，SA 减少并不能成为解释精神分裂症中的幻听等阳性症状的充分机制。由于有精神分裂症风险的参与者中也存在 SA 减少，因此 SA 减少可能代表该疾病的危险因素。我们讨论这些结果对精神分裂症临床认知模型的影响。