The nature of schizophrenia has long been debated. The following review presents an overview of the electrophysiological basis for the traditional process/reactive or typical/atypical distinction in schizophrenia. Evidence for this dichotomy was drawn from cortical EEG studies, with and without pharmacological activation, and from depth electrode research. The Japanese research in this area is also included. Both corticograms and subcortical studies indicate that the two schizophrenic groups are identifiable subtypes. Corticograms indicated abnormality in atypical schizophrenics but not in typical schizophrenics. Subcortical studies found both groups to be neurologically involved but with abnormal electrical activity emanating from the deep areas of the frontal and temporal lobes of typical and atypical schizophrenics, respectively.
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