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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
Spatial working memory deficits in adolescents at clinical high risk for schizophrenia
Christopher W Smith1, Sohee Park, Barbara Cornblatt
1Recognition and Prevention (RAP) Program, Department of Psychiatry Research, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System (NSLIJHS) Glen Oaks, NY 11042, USA. csmith@lij.edu
Abstract:
Identifying endophenotypic markers is crucial to schizophrenia research for finding appropriate preventive strategies. Working memory (WM) deficit has been suggested as a marker for schizophrenia but its presence in adolescents at high risk is understudied. We piloted a test of spatial WM function in adolescents at clinical high risk (CHR) for schizophrenia and in age- and IQ-matched low-risk control subjects. CHR adolescents showed deficits in spatial WM compared with controls but showed intact performance on a non-WM-demanding spatial control task. Although based on a small pilot study, the results strongly suggest that WM deficit may be a risk factor for psychosis.
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