Abstract
Background: Previous studies have demonstrated impaired relational memory in schizophrenia. We studied eye-movement behavior as an indirect measure of relational memory, together with forced-choice recognition as an explicit measure. Methods: Thirty-five patients with schizophrenia and 35 healthy participants were trained to associate a face with a background scene. During testing, scenes were presented as a cue and then overlaid with three previously studied faces. Participants were asked to recall the matching face, and both eye movements and forced-choice recognition were recorded. During Non-Match trials, no faces matched the scene. During Match trials, one of the faces had previously been paired with the scene. Results: On Non-Match trials, when no relational memory trace was present, both groups viewed the three faces equally. In contrast, on Match trials, control participants quickly (within 500 msec) and consistently (70%75% of test trial viewing) showed preferential viewing of the matching face. Viewing of the matching face was significantly delayed and reduced in schizophrenia participants. Forced-choice recognition of the matching face was also impaired in the patient group. An analysis of all correct Match trials revealed that preferential viewing was significantly reduced and delayed in participants with schizophrenia. Conclusions: This study provides novel evidence for a specific relational memory impairment in schizophrenia. Patients showed deficits in their forced-choice recognition responses, as well as abnormal eye-movement patterns during memory recall, even on trials when behavioral responses were accurate. We propose that eye movements provide a promising new avenue for studying relational memory in schizophrenia.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 617-624 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Biological Psychiatry |
| Volume | 68 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1 2010 |
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Keywords
- Eye-movement behavior
- hippocampus
- recognition memory
- relational memory
- schizophrenia
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biological Psychiatry
Cite this
Eye-movement behavior reveals relational memory impairment in schizophrenia. / Williams, Lisa E.; Must, Anita; Avery, Suzanne; Woolard, Austin; Woodward, Neil D.; Cohen, Neal J.; Heckers, Stephan.
In: Biological Psychiatry, Vol. 68, No. 7, 01.10.2010, p. 617-624.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Eye-movement behavior reveals relational memory impairment in schizophrenia
AU - Williams, Lisa E.
AU - Must, Anita
AU - Avery, Suzanne
AU - Woolard, Austin
AU - Woodward, Neil D.
AU - Cohen, Neal J.
AU - Heckers, Stephan
PY - 2010/10/1
Y1 - 2010/10/1
N2 - Background: Previous studies have demonstrated impaired relational memory in schizophrenia. We studied eye-movement behavior as an indirect measure of relational memory, together with forced-choice recognition as an explicit measure. Methods: Thirty-five patients with schizophrenia and 35 healthy participants were trained to associate a face with a background scene. During testing, scenes were presented as a cue and then overlaid with three previously studied faces. Participants were asked to recall the matching face, and both eye movements and forced-choice recognition were recorded. During Non-Match trials, no faces matched the scene. During Match trials, one of the faces had previously been paired with the scene. Results: On Non-Match trials, when no relational memory trace was present, both groups viewed the three faces equally. In contrast, on Match trials, control participants quickly (within 500 msec) and consistently (70%75% of test trial viewing) showed preferential viewing of the matching face. Viewing of the matching face was significantly delayed and reduced in schizophrenia participants. Forced-choice recognition of the matching face was also impaired in the patient group. An analysis of all correct Match trials revealed that preferential viewing was significantly reduced and delayed in participants with schizophrenia. Conclusions: This study provides novel evidence for a specific relational memory impairment in schizophrenia. Patients showed deficits in their forced-choice recognition responses, as well as abnormal eye-movement patterns during memory recall, even on trials when behavioral responses were accurate. We propose that eye movements provide a promising new avenue for studying relational memory in schizophrenia.
AB - Background: Previous studies have demonstrated impaired relational memory in schizophrenia. We studied eye-movement behavior as an indirect measure of relational memory, together with forced-choice recognition as an explicit measure. Methods: Thirty-five patients with schizophrenia and 35 healthy participants were trained to associate a face with a background scene. During testing, scenes were presented as a cue and then overlaid with three previously studied faces. Participants were asked to recall the matching face, and both eye movements and forced-choice recognition were recorded. During Non-Match trials, no faces matched the scene. During Match trials, one of the faces had previously been paired with the scene. Results: On Non-Match trials, when no relational memory trace was present, both groups viewed the three faces equally. In contrast, on Match trials, control participants quickly (within 500 msec) and consistently (70%75% of test trial viewing) showed preferential viewing of the matching face. Viewing of the matching face was significantly delayed and reduced in schizophrenia participants. Forced-choice recognition of the matching face was also impaired in the patient group. An analysis of all correct Match trials revealed that preferential viewing was significantly reduced and delayed in participants with schizophrenia. Conclusions: This study provides novel evidence for a specific relational memory impairment in schizophrenia. Patients showed deficits in their forced-choice recognition responses, as well as abnormal eye-movement patterns during memory recall, even on trials when behavioral responses were accurate. We propose that eye movements provide a promising new avenue for studying relational memory in schizophrenia.
KW - Eye-movement behavior
KW - hippocampus
KW - recognition memory
KW - relational memory
KW - schizophrenia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956926247&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77956926247&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.05.035
DO - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.05.035
M3 - Article
C2 - 20655509
AN - SCOPUS:77956926247
VL - 68
SP - 617
EP - 624
JO - Biological Psychiatry
JF - Biological Psychiatry
SN - 0006-3223
IS - 7
ER -