Stimulus configuration and context effects in perceptual organization in schizophrenia.
Two studies assessed perceptual organization in schizophrenia to determine (a) whether inpatient and outpatient groups with poor premorbid schizophrenia have comparable levels of perceptual organization deficit; and (b) whether the deficit could be eliminated by task manipulations. In Study 1, inpatients demonstrated clear evidence of a perceptual organization deficit, whereas outpatients performed similarly to the control groups. In Study 2, a performance pattern that operationally defined a perceptual organization deficit was eliminated by a task manipulation thought to aid in context processing. The perceptual organization deficit is most pronounced in actively symptomatic patients with poor premorbid schizophrenia, and the deficit reflects, in part, deficient top-down influences to basic perceptual processes.
Silverstein
S M
SM
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, USA. sslv@uordbv.cc.rochester.edu
Knight
R A
RA
Schwarzkopf
S B
SB
West
L L
LL
Osborn
L M
LM
Kamin
D
D
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011930:Reaction Time; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology