In summary, the findings of these recognition memory studies in schizophrenia suggest largely preserved late ERP old/effects overlapping the late positive complex, presumably associated with explicit retrieval or conscious recollection of items, whereas earlier old/new effects may be compromised. Likewise, the late cognitive components observed during these recognition memory tasks, notably those showing high topographic similarity to a classical P3b with a mid-parietal maximum, appear unimpaired in schizophrenia, whereas earlier potentials (N1, P2, N2) are reduced in amplitude. However, profound differences between these studies in almost all methodological aspects, particularly ERP component identification, definition and analysis, as well as choice of EEG recording reference, severely limits the ability to draw general conclusions from these findings.
