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Individual differences in negative priming: relations with schizotypal personality traits
British Journal of Psychology (London, England : 1953)
|August 1, 1987
Summary
Individuals with higher schizotypy traits showed differences in cognitive inhibition, specifically negative priming. This suggests a continuum between normal and abnormal cognitive processing, relevant to schizophrenia research.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Schizotypal personality traits are associated with cognitive deficits.
- Inhibitory mechanisms are implicated in schizophrenia.
- Cognitive models propose a continuum between normal and abnormal functioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between schizotypy and cognitive inhibition using a negative priming paradigm.
- To examine individual differences in interference and inhibitory effects on performance.
- To explore the continuum model of cognitive function in relation to schizotypy.
Main Methods:
- Normal subjects were selected based on their degree of schizotypal personality traits.
- A negative priming paradigm was employed to measure cognitive inhibition.
- A new scale of schizotypy and a measure of 'interference' were used as individual differences measures.
Main Results:
- A significant correlation was found between the new schizotypy scale and negative priming.
- The correlation between schizotypy and 'interference' was non-significant but in the expected direction.
- Results indicate variations in inhibitory selective mechanisms related to schizotypy.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the role of weakened inhibitory selective mechanisms in schizophrenia.
- The study provides evidence for a continuum of cognitive function from normal to abnormal.
- Individual differences in information processing can be theoretically analyzed through this approach.