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Executive control of working memory in schizophrenia
Joanne Oram1, Gina M Geffen, Laurie B Geffen
1Cognitive Psychophysiology Laboratory, Edith Cavell Building Medical School, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia. Joanne_Oram@health.qld.gov.au
Psychiatry Research
|June 1, 2005
Summary
Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit working memory deficits, particularly in tasks requiring central executive control over the visuospatial sketchpad. This impairment impacts complex executive functions more than basic recall.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Working memory impairment is a recognized characteristic of schizophrenia.
- Executive functions are frequently affected in individuals with schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess working memory and executive function in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls.
- To investigate the impact of dual-task conditions on cognitive performance in schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Utilized traditional and novel executive function measures.
- Employed dual tasks: Telephone Search with Counting and Memory Span and Tracking Task.
- Compared 54 schizophrenia participants with 54 matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia group showed significant deficits in most executive function measures, except for a composite Trail Making Test.
- Impaired performance on a tracking task (box-crossing) under dual-task conditions.
- Difficulty with tracking tasks when combined with digit string recall, suggesting central executive load issues.
Conclusions:
- Schizophrenia is associated with a specific impairment in the working memory system, particularly affecting the visuospatial sketchpad under central executive control.
- The findings highlight the role of central executive dysfunction in cognitive deficits observed in schizophrenia.