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Deficits in multiple systems of working memory in schizophrenia
K A Spindler1, E V Sullivan, V Menon
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5548, USA.
Schizophrenia Research
|November 28, 1997
Summary
Schizophrenia impairs working memory (WM). This study found that schizophrenia affects multiple, independent WM systems (spatial and object), not a central executive, supporting the multiple systems model.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Working memory (WM) is crucial for cognitive function and is impaired in schizophrenia.
- Two models explain WM deficits: a central executive model or multiple independent systems (spatial and object).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine which model best explains working memory deficits in schizophrenia.
- To investigate if schizophrenia impacts a central executive or separate spatial and object memory systems.
Main Methods:
- 14 patients with schizophrenia and 12 controls performed spatial, object, and dual (spatial + object) working memory tasks.
- Performance was compared between groups and across task types to identify specific deficits.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia patients showed significant impairments across all working memory tasks compared to controls.
- Both groups performed worse on dual tasks than single tasks.
- The performance deficit in schizophrenia did not disproportionately worsen on dual tasks, indicating no central executive impairment.
Conclusions:
- The findings do not support the central executive model of working memory dysfunction in schizophrenia.
- Results uphold the model of working memory deficits stemming from compromised, relatively independent spatial and object memory systems affected in schizophrenia.