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Saccades to moving targets in schizophrenia: evidence for normal posterior cortex functioning
1Department of Psychology, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, USA.
Psychophysiology
|November 1, 1996
Summary
Schizophrenia patients exhibit impaired smooth pursuit eye movements, specifically slower initial eye velocities. This suggests abnormalities are not linked to posterior cortical dysfunction in schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Individuals with schizophrenia display abnormal smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) initiation.
- This dysfunction may stem from issues in posterior cortical areas or frontal cortex SPEM regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if schizophrenia patients' SPEM initiation deficits align with pre-rolandic or post-rolandic neuropathology.
Main Methods:
- Compared 25 schizophrenia patients and 25 controls using step-ramp stimuli.
- Assessed saccade accuracy and initial smooth pursuit eye velocity (within 100 ms).
Main Results:
- No significant difference in saccade position error between groups, indicating intact motion perception.
- Schizophrenia patients showed significantly slower initial eye velocities during smooth pursuit compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Schizophrenia-related smooth pursuit abnormalities are not associated with neuropathology in posterior cortical areas.
- Findings suggest frontal cortex involvement in SPEM deficits in schizophrenia.