The Stroop task and attention deficits in schizophrenia: a critical evaluation of card and single-trial Stroop methodologies.
The Stroop task, considered by many to be a paradigmatic measure of selective attention, has often been employed to investigate attention deficits in schizophrenia. Card and single-trial versions of this task have yielded different results. In this study both card and single-trial versions were administered to healthy controls (n = 24) and patients with schizophrenia (n = 55). No differences in reaction time (RT) interference were found on either version. On the single-trial version, patients showed greater RT facilitation and error rate interference, evidence for a deficit in selective attention. Methodologic and analytic issues that account for the mixed results from earlier card Stroop studies are addressed. It is concluded that single-trial versions provide greater sensitivity to selective attention pathology in schizophrenia.
Perlstein
W M
WM
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Carter
C S
CS
Barch
D M
DM
Baird
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014836:Volition / Q000502:physiology