title: Spatial working memory assessment by a visual-manual delayed response task: a controlled study in schizophrenia.
abstract: 'Working memory' dysfunction has been proposed as a central cognitive feature in schizophrenia. To further explore this issue we developed a computerized easy and fast to administer test using the standard keyboard as visual-manual subject-computer interface along a delayed-response paradigm. The test has been administered to 25 patients who met the DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia and 25 healthy control subjects matched as possible for sex. The data confirm the visuo-spatial 'working memory' dysfunction in schizophrenic patients. The test maintains the discriminative capacity of similar previously devised tasks with the advantages of being usable on almost every standard computer and shorter and more acceptable for severely disabled patients also. The test can be considered an useful tool to study the 'working memory' impairment in the cognitive deficit of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, S. Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stratta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daneluzzo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prosperini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bustini
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marinangeli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology