Fig. 1. Findings from psychiatrically unaffected comparison individuals (left) and individuals with SZ (right) at multiple levels of resolution during cognitive control/working memory tasks.

A DLPFC activation associated with cognitive control during the AX Continuous Performance Task. Note the lower levels of activation in individuals with SZ. Data taken from a previously published sample [33]. B Frequency-time plots of scalp EEG recordings of prefrontal oscillatory activity during the delay period of the Preparing to Overcome Prepotency Task. Warmer colors indicate higher oscillatory power and cooler colors indicate lower power. Note that power in the gamma band (30–80 Hz) is substantially greater in the unaffected comparator group relative to the SZ group. Adapted from [90]. C Schematic representation of neural network synchrony (coordinated intracellular membrane recordings from pyramidal neurons) at gamma frequency in psychiatrically unaffected individuals and the hypothesized alteration of this synchrony in SZ. Adapted from [285]. D Diagram of local neural circuit in cortical layer 3. In individuals without psychiatric illness, it is posited that inhibition from PV basket cells (PVBCs) synchronizes the recurrent excitatory activity of groups of pyramidal neurons at gamma frequency, but lower levels of both excitation (indexed by smaller somal volumes, fewer dendritic spines, and shorter dendritic arbors, as depicted here) and inhibition (indexed by lower levels of GABA markers within PVBCs and by weaker shading here) could contribute to impaired synchrony in schizophrenia, as depicted in panel (C) (right).