Citation

Stuve TA, Friedman L, Jesberger JA, Gilmore GC, Strauss ME, Meltzer HY. Psychol. Med. 1997; 27(1): 143-152.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9122294

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In this study, we tested the hypothesis that low smooth pursuit gain in schizophrenia is related to an abnormality in motion perception. METHODS: The subjects were 19 schizophrenics treated with clozapine and 19 controls. In addition to smooth pursuit and motion perception paradigms, sustained attention was also assessed using a continuous performance task (CPT). RESULTS: In the patient group, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between smooth pursuit gain and motion perception threshold (r = -0.60, P < 0.01). This relationship was not secondary to attention deficits as assessed by the CPT. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with the notion that the smooth pursuit gain deficit is related to a deficit in motion perception rather than in attention. Brain area V5 (also referred to as "MT' in macaque), located in the parieto-occipital region, is known to be critically important both for motion perception and gain. Thus, our results point to an abnormality in this area in schizophrenia.

Language: en