Is there a binding deficit in working memory in patients with schizophrenia? A meta-analysis

In schizophrenia (SZ), a specific binding deficit in working memory (WM) has not yet been demonstrated, given that studies with various methodologies were conducted and the results obtained were heterogeneous. Thus, a meta-analysis of 10 WM studies was performed. Effect sizes were calculated for binding and control conditions. Analyses disclosed significantly lower scores in SZ patients relative to controls for both binding and control conditions. In addition, analyses revealed no greater impairments for the binding condition than for the control condition in SZ patients. Our meta-analysis suggests that there is no specific deficit of binding in WM in SZ.