Delusion-prone individuals: stuck in their ways?

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• False memories and confabulation are linked to executive dysfunction and suggestibility.
• Associations between delusional thinking, executive function, and suggestibility are underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cognitive differences in individuals with varying levels of delusion proneness.
• To examine set-shifting, planning abilities, and suggestibility in high versus low delusion-prone individuals.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of healthy individuals scoring high and low on the Peters Delusional Inventory (PDI).
• Assessment using the Intra-ExtraDimensional set shift task (IED) for set-shifting and the Stockings of Cambridge Task (SOC) for planning.
• Evaluation of suggestibility using the Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale (GSS 2).

Main Results:

• High PDI scorers made more pre-extradimensional shift errors on the IED task, particularly in reversal learning.
• No significant differences were found between groups on the SOC planning task.
• Individuals high in delusion proneness were less likely to alter responses after negative suggestive feedback.

Conclusions:

• Delusional thinking may involve difficulties in reversal learning, potentially linked to orbitofrontal cortex function.
• Cognitive inflexibility in adapting to changing contingencies and external pressure may underpin delusional thinking.
• Findings highlight a specific executive function deficit in delusion proneness, distinct from general planning deficits.