Semantic memory disorganization linked to social functioning in patients with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is characterized by language-related symptoms stemming from semantic memory disorganization, which often leads to poor social functioning. Although numerous studies have attempted to elucidate the association between these symptoms and social functioning, it remains unclear how individual differences in the degree of semantic memory disorganization are linked to variations in social functioning scores. Here, we investigated this association by utilizing advanced automated scoring techniques to quantify individual-specific semantic memory parameters from the category fluency test (CFT). Specifically, the similarity between consecutive responses from the CFT was calculated using distributional representations, forming the basis for the semantic memory organization parameters. Results showed that schizophrenia patients (n = 139) exhibited semantic memory disorganization compared to healthy controls (n = 98). Generalized linear models analyzing social functioning within the schizophrenia group, as measured by the Specific Levels of Functioning Scale, revealed that higher semantic memory parameters were associated with better social functioning scores (β = 0.07, z = 4.90, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that social functioning is related to semantic memory organization, thus providing a framework for the exploration of social functioning by assessing semantic memory organization in patients with schizophrenia.