Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashicho, Kodaira, Tokyo 1878553, Japan.
Neurosci Res. 2012 Feb;72(2):187-93. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2011.10.009. Epub 2011 Oct 29.
Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle reflex (ASR) and personality, such as temperament and character, are considered candidate endophenotypes of schizophrenia. Gene polymorphism studies have provided evidence that both PPI and self-transcendence (ST) are polygenetic traits that involve several neurotransmitters, including the serotonin and dopamine signaling pathways. However, the relationship between PPI and temperament/character has not been properly addressed to date. Here, we investigated the link between PPI and temperament/character in 169 healthy Japanese subjects. A human startle response monitoring system was used to deliver acoustic startle stimuli and to record and score the electromyographic activity of the orbicularis oculi muscle. PPI was evaluated at signal-to-noise ratios (SnRs: intensity difference between background noise and prepulse) of +12, +16, and +20 dB. The lead interval (from prepulse onset to pulse onset) was 120 ms, and Temperament and Character Inventory was used in both groups. Significant correlations at SnR of +16 and +20 dB to ST were identified. Our results suggest that impaired sensorimotor gating, evaluated as lower PPI of ASR, of healthy subjects is correlated with self transcendence, the character which is closely related with schizophrenia and schizotypy.
预备性惊吓抑制（PPI）的听觉惊跳反射（ASR）和人格，如气质和性格，被认为是精神分裂症的候选内表型。基因多态性研究提供了证据，表明 PPI 和自我超越（ST）都是涉及多种神经递质的多基因特征，包括 5-羟色胺和多巴胺信号通路。然而，迄今为止，PPI 与气质/性格之间的关系尚未得到妥善解决。在这里，我们调查了 169 名健康日本受试者的 PPI 与气质/性格之间的联系。使用人类惊跳反应监测系统来传递听觉惊跳刺激，并记录和评分眼轮匝肌的肌电图活动。在+12、+16 和+20 dB 的信噪比（SnR：背景噪声与预备脉冲之间的强度差）下评估 PPI。导程间隔（从预备脉冲开始到脉冲开始）为 120 ms，两组均使用气质和性格量表。在+16 和+20 dB 的 SnR 下，与 ST 存在显著相关性。我们的结果表明，健康受试者的感觉运动门控受损，表现为听觉惊跳反射的 PPI 较低，这与自我超越有关，自我超越与精神分裂症和精神分裂症样特质密切相关。
